Tim and Lily held hands as they followed Ginny down into the underground. Harry followed close on their heels.
Harry always followed his family, keeping his eyes on them. Watching their backs. His training as an Auror only encouraged his own native watchfulness (it couldn't be called paranoia if they really were out to get him). Harry could still hear Moody's refrain in his head, after all these years, "Constant vigilance!".
Lily was delighted, this was the first time she'd ever taken the underground and she was thrilled to be meeting her new cousin.
Tim had no problems with the tube. He'd been on it with his mum lots of times he'd said, apparently trying to ease Ginny's worries that their first outing as a family might be hard for him. Tim had shrugged and said that sometimes he took it alone if he had to pick up his mum's "medicine".
Ginny had swallowed hard and fussily cleared the breakfast table when Tim had said this, turning around to the sink to hide her overly bright eyes. Understanding far too well what Tim was referring to when he spoke of his mum's "medicine".
Hermione had explained a bit to Ginny and Harry about heroine; it was almost unknown in the Wizarding World. It just didn't have the same effect on wizard nervous systems. There were quite a few potions that used the basic ingredient, papaver somnifera, but unless activated by the magic of a potioneer, the effects would be cancelled out by the taker's magic.
There were, of course, more than a few potions wizards were known to become addicted to in the same way that Tim's mum had to muggle drugs. All the vices to be found in the muggle world certainly had their equivalent among wizards.
That morning with Tim had been unsettling, he was very watchful and wary. Harry wondered if the boy was waiting to be punished for breaking into his study the previous night. Harry knew that Tim had seen him return the photograph album to the room and then lock it magically. This morning. Harry heard Tim walk softly out of his room, and then hurry down the stairs, avoiding Harry completely. Probably fleeing to the relative safety of Lily's presence.
Harry wouldn't have worried about Tim going into his study, if there hadn't been some dangerous objects locked up in there. Mostly books that Harry used for his work, and a couple of amulets that were issued by the Dept of Magical Law Enforcement. Those things had their own wards, but Harry didn't even like the children in the same room with them.
At breakfast Tim had eyed Harry and Ginny fearfully, keeping close to Lily. Harry wanted to talk to the boy, reassure him, but Tim was so skittish. Harry worried that he'd upset the boy if he pushed. So he let Lily chatter happily about the day ahead to Tim.
He wasn't fooled by Lily's seeming obliviousness. A few times, he caught Lily looking between Tim and himself, then she redoubled her efforts at cheerful chatter. Harry reflected that Lily had the same fierce urge to protect the helpless that her mother and grandmothers had.
When Harry had went upstairs to get his cloak, he heard Lily's step on the stairs, "Dad?" she asked seriously as he turned around.
"Yeah?"
"Is Tim in trouble?" she asked, sounding worried.
"Why do you ask?" Harry, evasively.
"He just asked me if you use the belt or would he get off with just a smacking?" Lily asked, "I told him that you don't believe in smacking, and that its Mum who does the shouting. But that seemed to make him worse. He thinks he's in horrible trouble."
Harry sighed and sat down on the step , "Thanks for telling me, love. He's not in any trouble. He just went into my study last night, and I told him off. I forgot to lock it because I know you and the boys never go in there without me."
"And he thinks you're not done telling him off?" Lily asked shrewdly, "I'll tell him you're done, then." she smiled brightly, gave Harry a quick hug, and scampered back down the steps.
The rest of the morning had gone easily enough. The ride on the underground not much different to what Harry remembered. Lily was holding Tim's hand protectively as they made their way up the escalators and out onto the sunlit London street.
"Come on, you lot." said Ginny, glancing over her shoulder, "We should meet Dudley and Phillip outside. They won't be able to see it without us."
The Leaky Cauldron was the same as ever, although old Tom had retired, with his son taking over as barman. Ginny and Harry often brought the children down of an evening or on a Saturday afternoon.
Standing in front of the Leaky Cauldron was Eleanor excitedly trying to explain to Phillip and Dudley that there was a door there and giggling because they couldn't see it.
"Is that them?" squealed Lily, "Is it?"
"Yes." replied Harry, "Dudley!" he called, waving.
The three of them turned to look at the Potters.
Eleanor blushed and looked down, but Lily, like her brothers, had nary a shy bone in her body. She rushed up to Eleanor, with Tim in tow, "I'm your cousin Lily!" Eleanor looked startled, but pleased so Lily continued, "I'm so glad you're a girl! My other cousins are boys-well Victoire is eighteen and is much too grown up to bother with me and cousin Rosie is at school and Hugo's lots of fun, but y'know sometimes boys just don't get things."
Eleanor smiled, "Are you a witch too?" she said tentatively.
"Yes! And we're going to be in the same year at school. Dad said I could get my wand today, if I want. Are you getting your's today as well?" Lily asked.
Eleanor glanced at Phillip and Dudley who were looking on fondly, "Can I? Papa? Dad?" she asked breathlessly.
Phillip glanced at Dudley, who smiled and nodded, "Well, Tich, if your Aunt and Uncle show us how to get in here and then take us to wherever you get one, I don't see why not." Phillip stepped forward and caught Ginny in a hug and then Harry, "So where are we going?" Our Eleanor says this is the right place, but I can't see what she means."
Ginny smiled and took Phillips hand, glancing around she pointed her wand at him "Muggle animadverto videlicet!"
"Oh, my." he looked up and it was obvious that he could now see the sign and doorway to the Leaky Cauldron, "Oh, my." he repeated dazedly.
"You'll be able to see Wizard things when you're with Eleanor now." said Ginny, repeating the spell on Dudley, who looked as dazed as Phillip.
"Oh," exclaimed Lily, turning to Eleanor and pulling Tim forward a bit "I forgot. This is my foster brother, Tim! He's only been at our house since Wednesday."
Tim drew back from Phillip and Dudley, closer to Lily's side.
"Hello Tim. We met the other night, remember?" Said Dudley, in a gentle voice reminsicent of the voice Hagrid used with newborn monsters and injured bowtruckles.
Tim nodded seriously but didn't speak.
They all trooped into the now visible Leaky Cauldron.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Potter!" called the barman, "Mr and Mrs Weasley were just here. Said they'd meet you at Fortescue's."
"Thank you, Bert."
Dudley hung back to walk with Harry as Ginny led the rest of them through the back of the Leaky Cauldron and to the wall that opened onto Diagon Alley, "How's Tim been?" Dudley asked softly.
"What you'd expect. The healer's weren't happy with his condition. Malnourished, lots of bruises, really distrustful and convinced he'd done something terrible." replied Harry, "Hoards food. Sleeps pretty badly, but that might just be the transition. To be honest he's a little eerie to be around. Really too quiet for a seven year old. I guess I'm used to my lot, who take after the Weasleys." Harry jerked his chin at Lily who was telling Eleanor, Tim and Phillip about each and every thing to be seen on the street. The muggle born children and Phillip's eyes were wide as they made their way through the enchanted wall.
"Mum and Dad would've hated this." remarked Dudley, a little awed.
They walked a little way down the street. At last, Eleanor spoke up, "This is better than...than anything!"
"I have to get a cloak!" declared Phillip as they walked past a shop with a display of them.
Dudley laughed, "Where would you wear it?"
"Well, here, for one." Phillip said, "I feel positively underdressed!" he was actually dressed very smartly. Phillip was clearly not a jeans and t-shirt man, rather linen trousers and a rather expensive looking (though casual), shirt. "Velvet, d'you think?"
"How about blue with yellow stars on the hem!" put in Eleanor, pointing to one.
"Oh, YES!" laughed Phillip, "We'll get a matching one for your Dad, only in yellow with blue stars. Then we could visit Dad's Aunt Marge! "
"You'd get tried for manslaughter, Lawyer-boy." smirked Dudley, "She'd have a stroke on the spot and how would you explain it to the nursing home staff?"
Harry couldn't help it, he caught Dudley's eye and they both started cackling. Harry could just imagine the look on the old harridan's face. It would be the same look she wore when he'd accidently blown her up just before his third year.
It took a few minutes for both Dudley and Harry to calm down. Every time they got their laughing under control, they'd look at each other. Ginny and Phillip didn't help, they kept making comments to each other, "It wasn't that funny."
"Is he often like this?"
"Only when he's been hanging out with my brother too long."
"If you keep it up, we'll have to separate the two of you."
"People will think you're out on a day pass."
"People will think I overdid it on a Cheering charm."
"People already think your drunk."
The trouble was, their comments just added to the hilarity.
The three children looked on in awe at the spectacle of two grown men unable to stop laughing.
Finally, after about twenty minutes, Harry and Dudley wiped their eyes. Harry shook his head, "Have you met Aunt Marge, Phillip?"
Phillip's smile turned wry, "Only the once, at Petunia's funeral. She nearly did stroke out when she realized who I was. I think we should pay her a visit and take care of some unfinished business. Finish the job, like."
Harry nodded and returned the wry smile, amazed at how good he felt to be out on an outing with Dudley, of all people.
"So," said Dudley, "Where do we get wands?" clearly trying to get a handle on his not-quite-supressed giggles.
"Ollivander and Lovegood's" said Harry firmly, "But you need to exchange some money, they don't take pounds."
"They won't take a credit card?" asked Phillip surprised, "I guess we're really not in Kansas anymore."
Lily looked up surprised, "I thought Kansas was in America?"
