Dec 13th, 1983. Potter Mansion – 60Kms to Norwich on the shore of the North Sea, England. Three thirty in the evening.
It was a pleasant evening, a rare sight, due to the onslaught of the cold winds from the north. But today it was just a cool breeze flowing. The greenery was still there spreading the warmth and comfort of peace. The sun rays were beautiful to watch, without the glare. It is into this scene that we dive - The Garden of the old Mansion was filled with cheers and shouts.
Three Little boys of ages six, three and three were kicking the football, concentration on their little faces as four gentlemen were pretending to fail to snatch the ball away from them. The Game had an audience too. The crowd consisted of an old couple, a elderly gentleman with long beard and whitish-brown hair dropping to his waist and a severe looking woman with a stuffed vulture on her hat. They sat on lounges enjoying the climate and the sight of the playful lot, a pleasant change from their day to day activities in the stuffy rooms with even stuffy and grumpy people. They were making the most of the cheerful atmosphere. But that was not the extent of the watching crowd. The Game also had a couple of cheering women, one pretty face with fiery red hair and a round faced woman with a black plait, jumping up and down as their little players dodged past their opponents.
The eldest of the kids dodged past a man with black hair adorning his youthful and handsome face and made an accurate, and for his age, a stunning pass between another two men, to one of the younger kids with raven hair sticking up, the women cheering raise an octave, appreciating the skillful pass. The kid, but, paid no heed to this as he was sprinting ahead with all the speed his little legs could muster to support his teammates. But the cheering caught the attention of one of the men who had just made a fake little slide to intercept the little pass between the younger kids. He had a wide grin as he got up, running his hand through his windswept black hair making it even more messy. He looked at the cheering women, paying no heed that one of the younger kids was about knock the ball into the net, he gave a little bow towards them acknowledging the cheer directed towards him, Well at least he thought it was towards him. The women responded with a loud boo that prompted a loud gale of laughter among his teammates as he pouted.
"I am so happy our Lily decided to marry James, Charles. She can deflate his head from time to time, forcing him to walk on land," Said one pretty lady, looking at an elder man.
The man smiled and nodded his head agreeing with his wife. "Indeed Dorea, I am afraid we spoilt him more than necessary. It's good he married a fiery woman to keep his feet down." The remaining two smiled and nodded their approval of their assessment of the couple.
As the gentlemen laughed over their friend's jilted ego, the younger kid with a round face took advantage of the gentleman keeper's inattentiveness and scored their Fifth goal, sealing their victory in the battle of David vs. Goliath, the Davids triumphing again. The two younger kids spread their arms as if a bird of flight and ran around the ground close to their grandparents soaking in their applause and celebrating their unbreakable record against their dads and uncles. The elder kid however dashed towards the women and jumped into the arms of the fiery head, as she hugged him tight and spun him around as the other woman laughed at their joy. He had a smile that threatened to split his face in two. After a couple of spins she put him down.
"Lilly Mum, did u see how I passed between Paddy and Uncle Frank? It was this close, and before that how I faked passing to Neville, but passed to Harry instead. It was soooo cool. But the best was how I made the first goal. Uncle Remus couldn't get to it even if he dived. I knew he would look for the ball in the air so I hit it all along the ground. I fooled him right away." The older kid rattled as the fiery red head- Lily listened with a broad smile sharing a look at her friend Alice.
"You were very good Blakey. Those were just hairy big men with no brains. You little guys were so smart; you fooled them throughout the match." Lily said.
"Yes, Blake. I guess you had plan, didn't you? (Seeing Blake nod vigorously she continued) I knew it I saw you huddle up before the match," Alice concurred with her friend.
Hearing the praise, little Blake swelled with pride. After-all he was the leader and he was the mastermind of their strategy. But he was not vain despite his uncle's efforts. He knew he couldn't have done it with his team. So smiling he looked towards them. They like him were soaking in applause, but not from their moms, but from their grandparents.
Meanwhile, at the Elder's Lounge -
The two younger kids ran around their grandparents lounges a couple of times celebrating their victory, before coming to stop before their respective grandparents.
Dorea Potter took the grinning little fellow into her arms and kissed both his cheeks as his grin shone his face.
"My, my little Harry, where did you learn to play like that? Did your dad teach you?" Charles asked Harry.
"Naa. I didn't learn it from daddy. Mum says he doesn't know how to play football. Blakey taught me, and he learned it from Grandpa John. Did you see how I fooled daddy into slide? Dad couldn't stop my pass to Neville and Neville scored. They don't know how to play. They didn't even see Neville hit the goal. They are always laughing." Little Harry explained to his grandfather sincerely.
Dumbledore, who was listening in both conversations, chipped in—"Yes your father and uncles were not known for their concentration span. They earned quite a few detentions, just ask Prof. Minnie. I hope you both take after Lily."
Neville was giving his Granny blow by blow commentary of their exploits on the field to which she was paying great responsiveness, exclaiming at all the right points. He also explained their strategy to defeat their opponents.
"…so you see Blake said before the match that he would fake a shot towards me but pass it Harry, and Harry will pass it to me to score. And we did just that, didn't we Harry?" Neville said looking towards his partner and harry nodded his head, and both of them looked at their captain, who was looking at them and grinning. At this Harry and Neville squirmed down from the laps of their grannies and rushed towards Blake, laughing. They hit Blake without slowing down, and the three of them tumbled down in group hug cheering their well planned and executed victory.
Once the celebration was done with, it was Harry & Neville's turn to give a detailed account for the benefit of their mothers, ignoring that they were cheering the kids all the way. Lily and Alice just grinned and barred with the detailed sketch. To be truthful this was far better than the Quidditch match analyses of their husbands and friends after watching their team the 'Puddlemere United.' This thought struck them at nearly the same moment. They shared a quick smile and turned to look at the men.
The men with no idea that they had caused amusement for the ladies were in their own world with James surrounded by Remus 'Mooney' Lupin, Frank Longbottom and his best mate, Sirius 'Paddy' Black. They were still teasing James for the brutal reply from lily in response to his self-centeredness.
"I mean Prongs how did you think they were cheering you? I thought lily cured you of your inflated head before you married." Sirius jeered him.
James just pretended he didn't hear the comment, while the remaining two laughed heartily. Remus taking pity on James tried to change the topic-
"So, Prongsie, who taught the boys to play like that? Last I checked they were learning from you and Sirius. And you are hopeless at football, and booed a well- placed goal the first time you watched it with John. I thought he John wouldn't agree his daughter marry an idiot with no knowledge of basic football."
Sirius and James pouted identically at the slight, while Frank smiled with Remus.
"We are so much better than you, Mooney." Sirius slammed back at the same time James replied, "I thought he scored in his own goal, and I have gotten much better since then."
"You still haven't answered James. What are you doing to my son, turning him into some vivid footballer? So that when I want to teach him Quidditch he says 'No thanks, I prefer football'" Frank drilled.
"That would be the work of Alice and Lily. They think it's too soon for Quidditch, and they want the kids to be active, playing sports. So they left the kids at John's house all evenings last week. How they learned so much in five days I can't say." James answered sighing.
"Speaking of Quidditch, when are you blokes going to get permission from your better halves for us to teach Harry and Neville flying. Ron already knows how to fly. So once we teach both we can have flying matches. I hate running around chasing the ball." Sirius interrogated. He had been on this path since Harry & Neville's 3rd birthday.
Frank and James exchanged frightened looks. They remembered very distinctly the screaming they got when they took Blake at his 2nd birthday party. James had to sleep on the couch for 2 weeks, while Alice didn't talk with Frank for a week. They didn't want a repeat of that. If Sirius wanted to teach so badly, he could take them up, and suffer the wrath himself. They didn't even want to breach the topic with their loves.
"Alright, if you are going to be a chicken about it, I will talk with them myself, but remember I talk I teach. No interference, I want to make one of them a beater no matter what." Sirius Ploughed on stubbornly. James and Frank gave him a pained, wry smile. It was this or no Quidditch till they went to Hogwarts. Better it be Sirius than wait another eight years. So they gave him the nod to go ahead. Sirius grinned victoriously.
"So, Padfoot what is your strategy for icing the fire? Remember you have to get the permission. What makes you think Lily & Alice will give you a 'thumbs up'?" Remus rained on his parade.
"Ha, that's a problem for these idiots. Me? Lils & Ally Love me. I just have to be my charming self, piece of cake. Why are you guys laughing? I am serious." Sirius pondered as both Frank & James broke out into unbreakable laughing sprout, after a small mirth filled glance at each other.
It was Remus that answered Sirius's question as both his intended targets were rolling on the ground – "Well Padfoot you better not call Lily lils, She hates when you do that, if you want to charm her into giving you permission. And you also might want to think of a plan B, if in case your *Snort* charm failed you. Me, I think it's advisable to sucker punch them from all directions, and a little bit of help from Dorea and Albus wouldn't hurt."
"Remus plan, I concur with. Though, I do want to see the charm of Padfoot, just for entertainment." Frank giggled.
"Yeah, if it was for something I don't want so much, I would let Padfoot go ahead. It would make a great story for ages. 'Padfoot & the day he crashed head on into the fire' we could sell so many books. Where are you going Paddy? Come-on we were just joking, you are charming, but I don't think that should be our strategy." James tried to appease Sirius (Nobody was allowed to make fun of Padfoot about his charm, he was as sensitive about it as a girl about their beauty), as he tried to follow a grumpy Sirius who took off in a huff.
Remus felt a hand on shoulder as he followed his two best mates. He looked to his left to see Frank nodded him to rush so as to stop Sirius from ruining their Plan B in his grumpiness. Remus nodded, and both of them rushed after their objective.
Back at the Mansion following the excited victors of the match and their cheerleaders…..
Blake, who was walking backwards and talking through their finest moments with his cousin and friend, reached the door first to turn around. As he did, he saw flame of green flash pit out a red head. He rushed in excited and hugged the boy of 12yrs before he could gain his balance. Luckily he steadied the young boy.
"Billy we won, we won. 5-0, we thrashed them. Why didn't you come early? How was your school term? Did you learn anything interesting? Please, please, you will tell me, right?" The young boy, William Weasley, more commonly called as Bill, just smiled down at Blake and answered -
"Hey Blakey, Yes I did learn some good stories, and I will tell you all today after the movie. And you got to help me mind the crowd; I am going to need to your help."
Blake swelled at Bill's words. Bill was his hero. During their exchange, the rest of the crew travelling with Bill was spit out of the floo network. The Crowd consisted of the Weasley family along with the Lovegoods, the Diggorys, the Tonks, the Bones, the Abbots, the Davises and the Jordans. All the party members with families came by Floo, while the Singles apparated into the garden.
Within a few short minutes the quite household was filled with a hoard of noisy barbarians. The Girls accumulated around their fun-filled mentor for such evenings, Nymphodora 'Dora' Tonks, while the boys formed age appropriate sub groups, except for Blake as he greeted every girl, giving an extra hug to Ginerva 'Ginny' Weasley, Little sweet Luna Lovegood as he called her and Dora. Luna and Ginny hugged him back hard and invited him for their little tea party, as Dora fished out their tea set from the nearby trunk along with doll & doll houses for the other girls.
Neville, Harry & Ron forming their little unit, were exchanging stories of the earlier football match and Bill's tales of Hogwarts, and eaves dropping on their role models, Roger Davies, Lee Jordon and the twins, Fred and George Weasley huddle close by plotting pranks & mayhem. Percival 'Percy' Weasley was also close by, also earwigging, although for entirely different purpose, to rat them out. Charles 'Charlie' Weasley, along with Bill and Dora were herding the gang into the mundane room equipped with television, radio, video games and music system, their sanctuary.
With a few last minute warning from their mothers, especially from Molly Weasley directed at the twins, the ladies followed the men into the garden.
"Blake's such a sweet boy", Maria Lovegood commented, "Luna just loves him, he is like brother to her, and she looks forward to these meetings."
Lily smiled nodding, "Yes, he is, he follows Bill's example. He wants a little sister so he can dote on her like Bill does with Ginny. I hope Harry molds himself on Blake & Bill. But that husband of mine and his gang of pranksters are trying to corrupt Harry, Neville and Ronald, they have given up on Blake. Says I have ruined his fun filled years with my talk of responsibility. But they are bolstered by the path taken by Lee, Roger and the twins. Hope they can influence the young much better than the marauders. I am afraid they are not much wrong; I have seen them follow the twin's gang."
Molly smiled wryly, "That's what I need more children like the twins. You know it's become a full time job of mine, watching them. Why, just the other day they were trying to make an unbreakable vow with Ron." She nodded at the other women's shocked expressions, continuing, "Luckily Arthur caught them in time. He just went ballistic. I haven't seen him that angry ever. I am lucky Percy and Charlie are responsible like Bill, otherwise I would have my work cut out."
MAGICAL UNITY POLITICAL PARTY MEET, GARDEN POTTER MANSION
Dedalus Diggle was the first of the world crowd to apparate into the garden for the council. Today's Congress was to be important; they were to trap Lily, Maria, Alice and Dorcas Meadows/ Davies to name a few into running for the ruling senate, which would mean more work and less time with the children. Oh the counter argument for their involvement was expected to be for the tales, they thought. Just as Diggle and others exchanged greetings, the garden was filled with a series of cracking sounds as others joined in. Elphias Doge, Edgar Bones, Sturgis Podmore, Cordac Dearborn, Gideon and Fabian Prewitt, Alastor Moody, Benjamin Fenwick and Carl Wintworth, the inner circle of the M.U.P joined the crowd coming from the mansion. A short wide eyed creature with pointy ears appeared into the throng carrying a huge tray of Tea and snacks. The Tray was too big for her. As creature wobbled with tray, Lily rushed forward to help it and admonish it
"Blinky how many times did I tell you not to overwork yourself? You don't have to bring everything at same time."
The creature, Blinky, just smiled and replied in a sharp little voice before disappearing as silently as she appeared.
"Yes Mistress Lily, but it be no trouble. I be alright."
"Elves are stubborn little creatures", Lily sighed. Dorea Potter smiled dearly, she knew of continuing battle of wills between the Elves and the new Mistress of the House. Coming from a Mundane background and despite her years at Hogwarts, Lily didn't get used to 'slaves' that the Magical world employed. It provided a great deal of entertainment for her (Dorea).
"Lily-flower, you just need to give them time, you will get them, after all you got to me too and I was much more struck to my ways, didn't you?" James whispered into Lily's ear, draping an arm on her shoulder. She sighed contently cuddling into her husband.
"Yew! You guys are nauseating; do you always have to be so cuddly all the time?" Sirius teased them receiving no less than 4 slaps at the back of his head from surrounding women causing a bout of laughter among the assembled at his expense. Sirius took of course took it with smiley pout, after all it was the plan, Put Lily and Alice in good mood.
"Alright everyone, don't waste Blinky's tea, it's too good", James announced, sipping his cup greedily.
"Hear, hear," the men cheered.
After a half an hour's idle chit-chat, Albus Dumbledore, the architect of the party's itineraries stood up clearing his throat loudly drawing attention from the still talking members.
"As you know the election for ruling Parliament senate start in four months and we have to aim for the clear this time. We need a 70 percent seats on the assembly for any our major laws to architect a better way, and to wipe out the left out pureblooded ideology. And this can be achieved by increasing the witches' approval of our ways and by knocking down the opposition's stronghold, Knockturn alley. (Many of the assembled including Lily and Alice opened their mouths to air their thoughts about the improbability of winning in Knockturn alley senate but Dumbledore forestalled them, raising his hand asking them not to obstruct his thought & let him continue) I know it's not easy but we do have a trump card. [Alice and Lily exchanged bewildered looks, who was this trump card and why did their in-laws and husbands know before them?]
Dumbledore looked at Lily, smiling at her confusion, and continued –
"It's YOU Lily. I know, I know you are not ready to give up your carrier at St. Mungo's, but you are the hope. Ironically it was what you did while at the job you have to sacrifice that makes you likely to win the Knockturn Seat. You have been going to Knockturn alley on your free time to heal the economically challenged since you began working at the hospital. I was not sure it was a good think for you to go on your own, but funnily I am glad now that you refused auror presence."
"Any aurors presence and it would scare away most of the crowd, and it would defeat my purpose for going there." Lily slapped irately.
Dumbledore raised his hand in a silent apology, "I know my girl, and it's this selflessness that has gained you quite the fame among the seedy residents of the alley. And they were the one that warned of their less savory neighbours from causing you any harm. These residents have been kicking us to the curbs from the beginning in the elections as they see us as stiff rule abiding rich. But not you, you are the daughter-in-law of a rich snobs,(He smiled apologetically at the other Potters)yet you went into a dangerous place without protection for their benefit against your superiors order. They think you are one of them now."
"You are making this up", Lily accused, "How would you know, they don't like you there?"
Dumbledore smiled endearingly, he knew what they thought of him in seedy part of London- 'The Reformer', trying to draw them from out of their family businesses; In most cases involving stealing and selling illegal and banned items, animals and so forth. But he had source among them, loyal to him, a slippery thief he had helped out in the person's family in a dire situation.
"Yes, I know dear, But I have a friend there.." But Sirius cut him off, as he remembered an anonymous tip, which was hardly anonymous, on some dangerous crowd plotting an attack on the ministry.
"Mundugus Fletcher!"
"Fletcher? That drunk?" exclaimed Lily, "He always hovered around the place I worked from, rabbling off his non-existent symptoms for dragon pox."
Dumbledore looked apologetic, "Yes, him, I asked Mundugus to keep an eye out for you, just for our peace of mind. He was of course very willing. I admires' you, for what you were doing for the discards. He was the one that asked me actually, to request you to run from there. He thought you would feel uncomfortable to represent such 'shady' folk to ask directly. Their current senator, Borgin, is not so much liked as bared as he was one of their own. So, many of the patrons of the alley approached Mundugus, as they knew his friendly connections with me, to ask if you were interested to take his place. It's all hush-hush as they don't want Borgin to know. They think that you would provide them with things like medical help, schooling there that they need unlike Borgin who only caters to his line of business. And to help you work well, we plan to allot the Diagon alley place to Madam Malkin. She is very well liked, and was planning to hand her business to her niece, the young Madam Malkin, and retire. You would work together brilliantly, and it could do well with two such brilliant minds. I always thought Rachel would work as some high ranking job at the ministry, but she loved designing and making dresses," finished Albus, shrugging.
"But I ..Harry and Blake….my job.." Lily stammered, looking pleadingly at her husband and Mother-in-law.
"I know love, but think of the good you can do for them if you had the funds. And the Diagon and Knockturn alleys are financially rich areas. So you will have more galleons than your pay. Weren't you the one who said 'If only I were Borgin' in one of your rants after one evening", James reminded her hugging her.
"And don't worry about the kids, Molly, Augusta and I came up with an arrangement that the kids will love. There are John and Cameroon too. So the kids will have good time, and we will try not to spoil our grandchildren. We promise", Dorea tried to ease her worries and Molly smiled understandingly. Molly knew how hard it was to any mother to leave the children in others care. She was an absolute wreck last year when Bill left for Hogwarts.
"So you all knew", Lily half sobbed, half accused, when something struck her. "Thank you for that, I would feel much better knowing that the kids will be with you. And I don't mean to be causing any hurt, but what about Alice? Won't she with the babies?"
Alice, who was consoling her friend, looked up startled. In her effort to comfort Lily she missed that little bit information. She looked at Frank, Augusta and Dumbledore with wide eyes. At their rueful expressions her eyes widened even further.
"No!" she exclaimed, "Why? Lily's inclusion made sense." She threw a look saying sorry to which Lily nodded understandingly, "But what about my inclusion?"
"Yes dear, but we need independent, brilliant young women to attract more young girls towards the new lifestyle. As you know Magical Britain is mostly Male-Dominated society. It is one of the things we talked even before starting and James had the good taste in young women, marrying you two. Your husbands didn't want you to enter the politics as you loved the jobs you were performing, but change in a society requires some sacrifices from us. Don't worry about the kids, all of them will be together, so they will be busy enough playing all morning to miss you much. I know you two changed your job preference to be on emergency service only and it a major change but you won't be alone. Dorcas, Maria and Andromeda also agreed to run for the ruling senate instead of their husbands", Augusta reassured her.
"Yes it high time we women took on ruling this country. Let's show these men how to do it properly." Dorcas Davies chipped getting snorts of mirth from her friends, which turned into full blown merriment as all the men reacted with wounded expressions.
And slowly the serious talked tuned down into small chatters about the kids and their antics, as they walked towards the house. After a couple of minutes of this fun filled talk, Sirius poked James & Frank, asking them to dive into the matter they had discussed earlier. Seeing them shake their heads robustly, he rolled his eyes. Ignoring their warning signs he ploughed on obstinately
"Lils I was wondering", he began turning on his charm, he used while picking up women, ignoring the groans from his friends and the glare from Lily, "As both Harry and Neville are both over three years, when do I get to take them on broom and teach them how to fly."
Alice who was looking at Lily and smiling at Sirius inability grasp the simple fact to not call Lily 'Lils' tuned around to glare at Sirius too. The men just slammed their hands at their faces at the Hagrid like subtlety of their friend.
"Never" "Not while I am alive" Alice and Lily retorted at the same time respectively.
"What? Why not? I am great flier. Didn't I teach Blake? Look at him now, he is good", Sirius enquired, ignoring the slit nostrils steaming with anger at reminding of the day they took two year old Blake on real broom, not even a toy one. The men rushed past Sirius and the ladies to join with Dumbledore and others, leaving him to talk his way out of the pit he dug himself into.
Just as the women were ready to spit out fire, a little bullet shot at Lily hugging her legs.
"Lily-mum we watched ….just now. It was sooo good. Is paddy talking about my boom learning?" Not stopping for any confirmation he continued, "It was sooo much fun. Is he going to teach Harry and Nev? It will be so much fun."
Lily stammered about how to break the bad news to him.
"No dear, Paddy won't teach them. He is never serious right? And he may drop them. You don't want that do you?" Lily managed.
Blake pondered seriously for a moment before nodding in agreement asking, "Can't Billy teach them? He taught Fred, George and Ron. And he knows how to fly, he got an O on his flying test last summer and he is chaser for Gryffindor."
Alice and Lily looked at each other wondering how to escape this, when Alice tried…
"But Bill has to go home now, so may be another time."
Blake nodded and then said something that stopped their hearts,
"Yes, but I will ask Aunt Molly if Bill and Charlie can come over tomorrow to teach Harry & Nev. I will help too." With that he ran out to catch Molly before she flooed home to the Burrow.
After standing shock-still for few moments Alice broke the stunned silence saying, "Well it's better than letting these clowns teach them. Bill is much more responsible than Sirius and Co."
Lily agreed nodding, "I don't have the heart to say no to Blake when he seldom asks for something. And even now, it's for Nev and Harry. And he had the manners to ask Molly before asking Bill, that's more than all the men put together."
The Women nodded together and left to ask Molly themselves ignoring Sirius's sputtering defense of his fly skills and Manners.