a/n: hi! So I had a lot of fun camping but now I'm back to update!! Yay! While I was camping I brought my notebook with me and planned out a lot of things. So far what I'm thinking is that this story will be around forty...maybe forty-five chapters and then the next story will be several years in the future (the summer before Willa's last year of Hogwarts) and it will be different points of view. Like Willa, her sibblings, Ron, and Hermione. I also have every name picked out for all of the Weasleys, Potters, Lovegood-Longbottoms, Parkers (Sasha and Trey's kids), Malfoys, and pretty much everyone else. Oh and I've already picked who their children were going to end up with...some are very interesting combinations.
If you want to know the names of their children...then I'll write them in the next author's note at the bottom but let me know if you do or do not want to know...
For this chapter...originally I wasn't going to do a bridal shower in the story but it fit in with the chapter. I would like to thank Anna for giving me the idea for the bridal shower, as well as the quote, and for reading this over and editing it! Thanks!!
Ok, so I'm working on chapter thirteen at the moment and if I get enough reviews I'll update tomorrow!!
Always,
Kylie
There is nothing like sweet success.
You know the feeling once you've accomplished something? It starts with a sense of pride that swells inside of you and is followed by the notion that you actually completed something. Finally there's the satisfied smile that comes with the realization that you were successful in accomplishing the task set for you.
As much as I love succeeding in something and going through the stages of success, its fun to watch someone else accomplish something and see the satisfaction on their face once they've finally done something that they hadn't been able to master or when something that they've been working hard at for the longest time is finally done.
Watching others succeed is just as satisfying as succeeding yourself. Whether it's my daughter hitting a significant point in her development, watching a friend master a feat that she had difficulty with, or knowing that a friend has accomplished something that no other wizard has been able to, its gratifying to see success.
The day before the Longbottom Magictronics release party and two days before Ginny's bridal shower, Luna came to visit while the decorators were getting her large beach house ready for the party. It was a Thursday so Ron was off and he was inside playing with Willa while Luna and I chatted outside, drinking iced tea on this very hot summer day.
"California is really a lovely place." Luna said after taking a long sip. She was sitting in the shade dressed in a colorful and eccentric patterned sundress. Her seven-month pregnant belly extended underneath her flowing gown.
"It is." I agreed, fanning myself with my hand and holding my tea in the other. I wore a white and red strapless dress with my hair pulled back. It was incredibly hot but it was still a nice day and I wasn't about to waste it being inside.
"Did you hear Hannah Macmillan had her baby?" Luna asked lazily, taking a sip of her iced tea.
"Yeah. Ginny told me." I said, just as lazily. "Samuel Macmillan." I shut my eyes and leaned my head back to try and get some more color on my shoulders.
"She told me too." Luna said. We both laughed tiredly.
Neither of us really wanted to talk much. We were enjoying the warm sun in the quiet although we still did make feeble attempts at conversation.
"How's Phinny?" I inquired. I pried an eye open to see Luna smiling at her stomach.
"He's coming along well." she said with a smile. "My due date is August 12th but I think he might come sooner."
"Be careful he doesn't come later." I advised her. "Being over nine months pregnant is so annoying." She smiled.
"Whenever he's ready, he's got two loving parents waiting for him." Luna smiled and rubbed her bump. I smiled back and shut my eyes. It amazed me how serene Luna could be about everything.
"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron yelled from inside. I shot up in alarm and looked to see Ron beckoning me inside urgently. I hurried in while Luna carefully took her time getting up.
"What's wrong?" I asked, adjusting to the dimmer light in the house.
"Look 'Mione!" Ron said, proudly pointing at Willa. With the help of the coffee table she had pulled herself into a standing position. She was smiling and for only a second longer stood there until she released the coffee table and fell on her bum, giggling.
"Oh Willa, you stood!" I exclaimed. I hurried forward to kiss and hug her.
"Yahyealaa!" Willa responded. She didn't want to stay still for too long because she got back on her hands and knees and began crawling around again.
"Oh my God, Ron, she was standing." I said again, tearing up. Ron was smiling just as big.
"She was crawling around and her doll was on the coffee table." Ron explained with a huge grin on his face. "It was so amazing. She just pulled herself up at the coffee table. My little girl is so smart." I got down on my knees in front of Willa.
"Can you stand up again?" I asked her. "Can you stand for Mama?"
"Ahyeiahooo!" Willa said. I moved out of her way and laughed as she crawled around me and batted her doll at the barrier that surrounded the living room. She was determined to get past the invisible walls that kept her only crawling around the living room.
"Oh, that's so amazing." Luna said from the door. She rubbed her stomach. "And Phinny's kicking too. He's happy for Willa." She smiled dreamily and sank onto the couch. I smiled and watched Willa beat her fists against the barrier and then gave up to go find Mimi.
It was incredibly amazing to watch my daughter develop. Each time she hit a milestone, I felt the accomplishment that she would feel if she were aware of it. And every time it happened I felt more proud of my daughter who was doing so much. The next step: taking her first step…
Friday was going to be one of the biggest nights in Wizarding history. Longbottom Magictronics was being released and people were already lining up at the doors of new stores, waiting to get their hands on the new technology.
Neville was holding a party at his house for the release. Just about everyone involved with the products was going to be there, as well as Neville and Luna's friends, and other up and coming celebrities. It was sure going to be something, something big.
Ron and I left the house at eight after dropping Willa off with Molly. Ron was wearing a nice tux for the fancy party and I had on a light gray dress with some silver jewelry.
The whole thing was going to be an amazing night. Luna explained all the details to me yesterday. They had gift bags with M-phones (Magictronics-phones), palm pilots, a laptop, the first few episodes of Neville and Luna Coming To America on DVD, and a few other movies that were recently made. At midnight, stores would sell TV's, laptops, M-phones, etc… and at midnight, they will premiere a special programming on WTV (Wizard TV). The theme of the party was Futuristic Magic. Everything was silver and magical…I didn't know what that meant but that was the way Luna explained it to me.
We pulled up to Neville and Luna's beachside Malibu house an hour later. A wizard in red robes took our car and gave us a ticket.
"Wow." Ron said as the valet pulled away in his TrailBlazer. "Neville wasn't kidding when they said they had a nice house on the beach." I turned to the house where I could hear interesting music emitting from. It was a large white house with a few palm trees in the front.
"Shall we go in?" I asked. Ron held out his arm for me and nodded with a smile on his face.
"Yeah. I want to see what's inside of here." he said.
Neville met us halfway to the door. He was beaming in the face as he greeted us.
"I'm glad you guys are here! Ginny, Harry, Sasha, and Trey just got here. Come on, I'll show you the place. We've got a TV in the rec. room playing our TV show. It's so cool!" Neville smiled brightly. I noticed his excitement that he had for this party. Everything that he'd worked on since leaving Hogwarts was finally coming together. He had accomplished this amazing thing that no other wizard had succeeded at before him and I didn't blame him for being this happy about it.
Neville led us to the inside of his home. There were silver decorations everywhere with shooting stars, complements of Fred and George, whizzing by people's heads. On a TV screen in the rec. room, Neville and Luna were smiling at the camera. It was funny to see friends on reality TV (or WTV) but it was also pretty cool.
Their house has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, family room, rec. room, and an upper and lower deck where the ocean could be seen. It was an extraordinary home.
"Do you see this house?" Ron asked in amazement as Neville went to get us drinks. "You could get lost in here! I wish I thought of making this stuff." I laughed.
"Well, I think we have a lovely home even if it isn't as big." I said.
"Whatever you say hon." Ron said. I laughed and we joined Harry, Ginny, Sasha, and Trey at a table on the upper deck. Neville and Luna joined us a little while later. We all talked a little before we were urged to mingle.
Ron and I met some very interesting people as we mingled through the crowd. We came to a conclusion by the time it was almost Midnight that we were not surprised that these people were friends of Neville and Luna. We had learned to always expect the unexpected with them.
Fred, Angelina, George, Alicia, Lupin, and Tonks were all here as well. After making polite conversation with the people we didn't know, we spoke with them until it was time for the countdown.
"10…9…8…" I felt like it was New Years as everyone crowded around the TV and waited for WTV to start its first program.
"7…6…" The lights in the room dimmed; everyone's attention turned to the television.
"5…4…3…" I gave Ron's hand a squeeze and he smiled at me.
"2…1!" Everyone cheered as something came on the TV.
"Welcome to WTV News. I'm your news anchor, Rod Ryans and I'm proud to be here for the first program ever on WTV. Of course we have Neville Longbottom to thank for this. He's the brilliant mastermind behind all of this new technology. I think we have a clip of Neville's new reality WTV show. It's a program about Neville and his wife as they fit into life in America." The news went on to report about Neville and then the goings on in the Wizarding world.
It really was a brilliant party that went on into the early morning hours. Finally we found Neville and Luna on the upper deck, being congratulated. Both of them were still beaming brightly at the success that Longbottom Magictronics had become in less than two hours. Luna was holding the white kitten that was getting bigger since we gave them the kitten. His name was London.
"Stores have sold out!" Neville said with a smile on his face. I wasn't sure but the grin looked permanently fixed on his face. It was nice though, to see Neville's accomplishments, finally out there for the Wizarding world. Next month when he had the premiere party at their flat in London, I hope he would feel just as happy.
"Neville, that's great. We're really happy for you!" Ron said.
"It is. This is brilliant." I said. Neville smiled even bigger. There was nothing like adding compliments to success. It was the perfect mixture.
"And the palm pilot is so cool!" Sasha said. "I can keep a record of all the classes that I have to teach next semester!" She held up the palm pilot to show Neville her schedule. "And Bridal Shower tomorrow is the first thing I get to enter in!" she said.
"The computer is awesome." Trey informed Neville. "Now I can play video games at work…when I'm not busy."
"Well Breakout looks like a brilliant movie." Harry said, referring to one of the DVD's in his silver gift bag. By the looks of it, it was about Aurors tracking down escaped convicts that broke free from Azkaban.
"I love it all!" Ginny said excitedly.
We continued to praise Neville on his products and let him bask in the glory of his success for a few more minutes. I noticed how Luna took Neville's success. She was smiling at him with admiration.
Finally we had to leave to go pick up Willa and Lily. It was two in the morning in California and ten in the morning in England. Harry, Ginny, Sasha, and Trey were staying over since the bridal shower was the next day. Ron, Harry, Neville, and Trey were going to Disney Land the next day with Willa and Lily while Sasha, Ginny, Luna, and I would be at Ginny's bridal party. Sasha, Luna, and I worked hard for weeks planning this and were finally satisfied with how our idea of the party came out.
The next morning I was awake at seven. Everyone else was still sleeping. I got Willa and Lily up and brought them to the highchairs in the dinning room. Sasha and Trey were asleep in the wand-made guest room and Harry and Ginny were asleep on the bed that I conjured in Willa's room. Willa spent the night in our room while Lily slept in Willa's crib. Now both girls were up and I thought I'd let everyone sleep a little longer before they had to get up.
As I sat down to enjoy a nice breakfast with Willa and Lily, there was a tap at the back door. A large brown and black owl was at the door with a small square box attached to his leg. I hurried to let the owl in. Another one followed with the usual morning copy of the England Gazette.
Willa and Lily giggled as the two owls took flight again, departing and leaving the box and the paper behind. Curiously, I opened the box stamped with a Magictronics label first. Inside the small box was a large TV that had to be extracted magically. A DVD player and magic cable box were also stuffed in the box.
With a wave of my wand, I conducted the Magictronics TV where the muggle one was located. I flicked my wand once more and WTV news came on.
"Good morning." Rod Ryans said from the TV screen. With a smile, I flicked my wand again: Wizard Entertainment channel doing a profile on new celebrities; once again: Comedy Channel had stand up comedians on; yet again: Witch Style had a makeover show on; and on the fifth flick I found something interesting. It was called Pals and about six friends living in L.A. Of course it was a knockoff of the muggle TV show Friends but I still found it funny.
Ron was the next one awake. He smiled when he saw the large television he ordered.
"Awesome!" He declared. He took out his wand and began flicking through the channels.
"I was watching that." I protested. "It's my new favorite WTV show."
"Sorry, my love." Ron said. He leaned down and gave me a kiss. Willa puckered her lips as well, wanting a kiss. "And you too." he said kissing Willa's forehead and then kissing Lily's. He sat down with a bowl of cereal and we both watched the WTV news.
Eventually everyone woke up and joined us for breakfast. When I was done I took Willa to get ready for her day in Disneyland with her daddy, Uncle Harry, Neville and Trey. I dressed her in a light pink sundress with her white hat to protect her face from the sun. Ron took her downstairs with everyone while I got ready for the Bridal Shower. I smiled as I dressed in a coral colored dress with matching flip-flops hoping that Ginny would enjoy what we had planned for her.
x
An hour later, eleven "students" stood in front of cooking stations at the San Clemente Cooking School. This was stop number one of the bridal shower. We were going to learn how to make a meal and bake something. Sasha proposed the idea and Luna and I agreed. We all knew how Ginny was when it came to cooking.
"This is a lost cause." Ginny assured us, but she seemed pleased in her white sparkly apron that read, I'm Getting Married! It was a gift from Fred and George after Angelina and Alicia told them what Ginny's shower day entailed.
Molly looked excited to learn a new recipe (upon learning that this was the first destination of the day she composed a book of recipes for Ginny that was wrapped and waiting at my house with the other gifts); Tonks was working on her appearance to look more chef-like; Fleur, who already knew how to cook, was concerned with explaining the different kitchen utensils to Ginny; Alison was excitedly tying her apron on, she thought that this was a brilliant idea for the shower; Penelope was double-checking to make sure her station was clean and everything was in order (I didn't blame her, this was a cooking class and although we weren't getting graded I still wanted to excel); Angelina was cleaning up something she spilt; Alicia was picking at some food that was set out at her station; Sasha was taking pictures of everyone for a wedding scrapbook; and Luna was sitting at her own station following what Alicia was doing. Instead of having a big event at a hall, we decided that it would be better to have a more intimate shower with family and bridesmaids. I smiled at everyone who seemed to be enjoying themselves as the cooking instructor walked in with a big smile on her face.
"Hello everyone!" She said smiling. "I'm Caroline and today I am going to teach you how to cook the muggle way as well as how to use your wands in the kitchen when preparing a dish." Caroline had long curly hair and warm hazel eyes. She was on the short side but the chef's hat made her look taller.
She got into a description on what we were making and then we were ready to make Olio e Aglio Pasta, which was actually just angel hair pasta with oil and garlic. She instructed us on everything and we went step by step into making it. Finally when she finished the instructions, she made the rounds to see how it all turned out.
"And how did the bride-to-be manage?" Caroline asked, walking over to Ginny's station. I turned away from my own pasta to see how Ginny's came out. Unfortunately everyone else did too.
"I, uh, tried everything that you said to do and it looks like it came out ok…" Ginny looked nervous as she pushed a bowl of Olio e Aglio Pasta in front of Caroline. I held my breath as Caroline stuck her fork into the bowl, twisted it, and then brought it to her mouth to take a bite. The room was completely silent as we waited for her verdict.
"Not bad." Caroline decided, smiling. "You know Ginny, with some practice you could cook a more elaborate meal as well." Ginny smiled and I released my breath. "This came out really well though." Caroline smiled at her and moved onto Luna's station. Ginny was still smiling as she grabbed her own fork to try her pasta. She smiled after swallowing.
"It isn't bad." She observed in awe. I laughed as she took another bite. "In fact, I think I might make this for Harry tonight." I smiled at Ginny and saw the look on her face. She was in the realization stage of accomplishment. Finally, with some instruction, she had succeeded in cooking something.
As ok as her Olio e Aglio Pasta came out…Ginny had a little bit more trouble with the baking Colorful Cupcakes part of the lesson. This was when we got to use our wands.
"And with our wands we want to guide our flour into the mixing bowl. Now not too forcefully…" Caroline said. Gently I guided my flour into the bowl and waited for Caroline to give the next instruction. That was when I heard the sound of a flour bag ripping and a moment later, flour was raining down on me like a snowstorm.
"Ooops." I head from Ginny's direction. I heard a giggle from Sasha's way and after a loud, unexpected sneeze from Tonks' station I heard laughing from everywhere. I joined in as the flour began to settle down and I could see clearly now. Even Caroline was laughing. Ginny, on the other hand, looked devastated that her second attempt at making something was not as successful as the first. It took her a minute but once she took a look around at everyone who was covered in flour, she couldn't help but crack a floury smile. "Sorry." she said, shrugging. The tan she had gotten from being in California was now covered in flour as was her hair and bright red dress. Once she got a good look at herself she let out a full on laugh and Sasha snapped her picture.
"Stick to cooking Gin, I don't know if baking is right for you." Angelina said with a laugh. We all continued to laugh as Caroline lifted the flour mess with her wand. The flour didn't completely come off of us but it was mostly gone.
Ginny helped me finish off my purple frosted cupcakes and everyone enjoyed one of their own cupcakes before we would move onto our next destination. I had the cupcake recipe written down for Willa's first birthday party.
Our next destination was somewhere we thought Ginny would love. The spa.
"Oh…my…GOD!" Ginny exclaimed, walking into the fancy spa. The other women stared in awe at the beautiful fancy Witches' Spa.
"Welcome." a tall blonde woman said in a serene tone. Ginny smiled brighter and squeezed my arm happily. Now this was the kind of Bridal Shower she wanted.
First up was massages followed by a relaxing manicure and pedicure.
As we sat in chairs getting our toenails painted a soft pink, a spa worker came in balancing a tray of fancy cups on a tray. I knew Ginny would love this part. Sasha had some strings pulled here but we were able to create a special ice cream for Ginny.
"The Ginny flavor." The witch said, handing Ginny a fancy cup with chocolate ice cream, caramel, brownie pieces, chocolate chips, fudge, whip cream, and a cherry to top it all off. Ginny looked at Sasha, Luna, and me in shock.
"We know how much you love ice cream." I said. "It's all your favorites together." Ginny smiled and stuck her spoon into the ice cream.
"Oh ma God." she said with a mouthful. "This is AMAZINE!" She declared. We all laughed and tried our own Ginny ice cream. And for the first ice cream I'd had since I was pregnant it was amazing!
Later that evening all the others had gone home except Ginny and Sasha. We sat out back where Ginny's gifts sat on the table. She was looking through the recipe book, debating on whether or not she should try making chicken or another pasta for dinner for Harry.
"I feel so relaxed." I said, sighing and leaning back in my chair. Apparently I had a lot of tension in my back. It was all gone now. I felt just as serene as the people who worked at the spa. I took a look at my pretty pink nails.
"Gin, you're not going to fit into that wedding dress if you don't give that ice cream a rest." Sasha joked as Ginny dug into the pint of Ginny ice cream, complements of the spa.
"So." Ginny protested with a mouthful of cold ice cream. "I'm making it. I can alter it if I need to." The three of us laughed.
"Hermione, I love your house." Sasha said. "It's adorable." She rested her head against her own chair, looking relaxed as well. I smiled at Sasha as the door to the inside slid open. Ron walked outside with a Disney clothing clad Willa. I heard the WTV on inside (Trey found the Comedy Channel the most amusing one).
"So then I said, 'that's not my poodle…that's my grandma!'" The Comedy Channel might get old after a while, though…
"Ah!" Willa exclaimed when she saw me. I smiled and stood up.
"Hi baby!" I said. I hugged Willa and kissed her forehead. "Did you have fun with Daddy today?"
"Ahyeahla." Willa replied. I surveyed her wardrobe. Over her pink sundress, she wore a Disney Land t-shirt with several Disney characters on it. She had on a Disney hat and a Tinkerbell stuffed animal in her hand, along with a fake magic wand. She was waving it around and shouting out baby gibberish. My little witch.
"We did have fun." Ron said. He had on the same Disney t-shirt as Willa and a funny hat on his head. He also had a fake magic wand like Willa.
"Well, look at you." I said. "Very hot. I especially like the hat." Ron chuckled and bent his head to kiss me.
"I thought you'd like it." He said. I smiled back while Willa squirmed in my arms. We followed Ginny and Sasha inside where I set Willa down. She immediately began crawling around the room.
"Oh my, Lily." Ginny said when she saw her daughter. Lily was covered in Disney merchandise as well although she was dressed in a Cinderella costume. It took Ginny a moment but she refrained from flipping out. "You look adorable." She said. I watched as Sasha sat down on the couch next to Trey who was laughing at the TV. She was watching Willa with a longing look in her eyes. She looked at Trey and pointed to Willa who was attempting to get out of the barrier. He kissed her forehead and whispered something to her. She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.
"So what's for dinner?" Ron wondered as he grabbed a bottle of Snapple from the refrigerator. He sat down in the chair and set the water on the coffee table.
"Ginny's cooking." I said.
"What?" Ron and Harry asked at the same time.
"Yes. I'm making dinner!" Ginny declared happily. She placed Lily on the play mat and hurried to the kitchen. They both looked at me at the same time with shocked looks on their faces but I just shrugged. Everyone's attention turned to the coffee table as Willa, who was standing, knocked over the Snapple bottle. Brown liquid splashed onto my nice clean beige carpet.
"Oh Willa, you're standing again!" I said. I hurried over but she fell back on her bottom again, not wanting to stand for long.
"Hermione, this might stain." Ron said. He took out his wand but he didn't know any stain removing spells.
"Ron, our daughter's brilliant!" I declared.
"I know Hermione but the Snapple fell." Ron gestured to the liquid on the ground.
"I'll get to it." I assured him, feeling serene about the whole thing.
"Who are you and what have you done with my wife?" Ron asked in shock. I laughed and Willa laughed at me laughing.
"I'm just relaxed." I said.
I had my own minor accomplishment: I was successful at being relaxed about something for once; Ginny had her accomplishment: she was successful at cooking something; Neville had his accomplishment: his successful invention had finally been released and it was a hit; and Willa, my brilliant daughter, was standing now and on her way to walking.
As the saying goes, "there is nothing like sweet success" especially when it comes to family and dear friends. It makes you proud, even if it's someone else's success instead of your own.
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