Foal Kitchen
Author Note: Am I Joanne Kathleen Rowling? Nope. It's not mine, then. Here's a good chapter with, as promised, Neville and Ginny getting their pride and joy, our favourite Ravenclaws flying through tests, and the first academic year closing. Plus lots of other fab sequences!
'Meda, Joan and Phillip walked in early to Herbology. Neville jumped when he heard their footfalls.
"What's wrong?" Phillip asked - his and Joan's line with Neville was sometimes blurred, thanks to Christmastime, but they knew when it could be crossed.
"Oh. I think I know." 'Meda said, her silver eyes lighting up. Neville smiled.
"Why?" Joan pondered. 'Meda rolled her eyes.
"Stellacain, do the maths. Forty weeks on from September 1st." she said calmly. Joan figured it out in a matter of seconds. Her jaw dropped.
"Oh..." she trailed, her lips twitching into a smile.
"At least I'm preparing mentally. Harry had to think fast." Neville laughed, nudging 'Meda.
"Was Miss Potter here born early, by any chance?" Phillip asked. Neville nodded.
"She was. My jaw twitched when I found out Ginny and I were her godparents." he said, laughter in his voice.
"You didn't know about that famous incident?" Joan queried. Neville shook his head.
"No. I didn't. Ginny didn't tell me until 'Meda was born." he laughed. "And she got you a good present when you came around."
"And you bought a dangerous one once." 'Meda coughed subtly. Neville gave her a questioning look. "Don't you remember?" 'Meda asked innocently. Joan and Phillip shared a glance. "It was when I found out Ginevra was the long form of Ginny." 'Meda continued. Neville clicked and sighed.
"It was not my fault. Luna came to the rescue, but still, that was an accident." he declared.
"How do you call letting a vicious plant cause red and purple splotches from the neck up an accident?" 'Meda exclaimed.
"Brace yourself, you three. You'll face tentacula sooner than you think yourself." Neville said solemnly. Three pairs of eyes widened.
"It's in the curriculum! You have to edge around the tentacula-"
"-when we handle the Mandrakes in Greenhouse Three next year." Joan finished off Neville's speech. "We'll brace ourselves so we don't faint around either plant." she chirped.
"How do you know about- oh Susan..." Neville mumbled. Joan nodded merrily. "Just get to your seats." he said sternly, but a flash of humour was in his eyes. The lesson seemed to drag for Neville, and as if by a weird timing of fate, the moment he dismissed the class a silvery doe glided into the greenhouse.
"Get ready to start a new chapter in the book of life, Nev." Luna's voice sounded as the doe's misty lips moved. Neville laughed.
"More like a new page. Oh Luna..." he chuckled, gathering up the supplies and putting them back. Then he walked to McGonagall's office. "Shortbread." he said. The gargoyle opened up and Neville went up.
"Oh hello Neville." McGonagall greeted.
"Hello Minerva." he replied, smiling. McGonagall realised.
"Has Ginny gone into labour?" she queried. Neville beamed. "Very well. You may start your leave, and I'll appoint a new Herbology teacher for Monday and the next two weeks." McGonagall stated.
"Thank you." Neville grinned, walking off to the boat arrival point. He Apparated. Purge and Dowse Ltd... Purge and Dowse Ltd he thought. He appeared on the London street where St. Mungo's was. The undercover dummy opened up at the clearly wizarding crack.
"Neville Longbottom, here to see Ginny Longbottom." he stated. Within a minute he was at the maternity ward.
"Oh Neville, thank Merlin you're here." Hermione said. She led him to the delivery room, and then walked back into the waiting room where the Weasleys, Harry and Luna were.
"Soon the Weasleys will be blessed with an offering of peace, soul and life." said the bushy-haired brunette. Luna chuckled. Hermione locked eyes with the blonde and grinned - Luna had understood her joke. When Harry begged Luna with his eyes to tell him, she wagged her finger and just smiled knowingly. Harry pouted. After some time, Paige was born. It was only when the Healer walked into the waiting room that Harry stopped pouting. In fact, he and Luna both got quite a shock.
"Oh, isn't this a surprise?" Healer Harding's voice was traced with laughter. Harry, Luna, Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped.
"What's the shock?" Audrey asked - she hadn't been there those nearly-twelve years ago.
"I delivered Andromeda." Healer Harding smiled. "Come on you four." she continued, walking off to the delivery room. "Ginny had to have a Calming Draught." the Healer chuckled.
"That one has a temper." Harry laughed, and Luna high-fived him.
"Poor Neville must have been screamed at." Ron said.
"I was, Ron." Neville replied - Healer Harding had led them into the room. Ginny glared comically at him, her eyes softening once she looked at Paige.
"Awww." Hermione and Luna crooned.
"Now are you going to explain your little joke?" Harry moaned to Hermione.
"What joke?" Neville and Ginny asked.
"Hermione said that your little girl would be an offering of peace, soul and life." Luna laughed. Neville snickered, and high-fived Hermione. Harry was really annoyed now. Ginny took pity on him.
"Don't anger him Neville. Remember." she said in a conspirational tone, her brown eyes boring into Neville's dark green. He nodded. "Hermione's joke was based on the acronym PSL - the initials of the newborn's name - Paige Samantha Longbottom." Ginny smiled, looking at Harry. As if fate was listening, Paige woke up as Ginny said that, opening dark green eyes.
"She's a carbon copy of Ginny." Hermione whispered, smiling.
"But with a certain herbologist's eyes." Ginny winked, passing Paige to the herbologist in question.
"Pomona Sprout?" Luna asked jokingly.
"That would have caused problems." Harry chuckled, wrapping his arm around Luna. Ginny face-palmed.
"Honest to Merlin, why we to decided to-"
"Decided to what?" Harry asked. Ginny inhaled and turned to her brother and sister-in-law.
"Sorry Ron, Herms, but you're already Paige's uncle and aunt, so..."
"No way." Harry said. He had clicked about Ginny's meaning. "Thank you." he said, half-hugging Ginny. Ginny laughed.
"Yep. You guessed right Harry. And Neville agrees, no-one better." Ginny grinned. Luna was clueless. "Honestly, Luna. You showed no trouble raising Teddy." Ginny laughed. It sunk into the blonde.
"Aw, thanks Gin. We'd be honoured to be Paige's godparents." Luna said, Harry saying it in unison with her after the first syllable. Ron and Hermione's eyes popped.
"That's scary." Ron stammered. Harry laughed. Neville passed Paige over to Harry.
"Speaking of herbologists, do you know who your replacement is, Nev?" Luna asked. "No. McGonagall didn't tell me." Neville answered. Ginny gave Luna a semi-glare.
Luna put on her best 'Little Miss Adorable and Innocent' face, which caused Harry to go gooey on the inside.
"Luna, look what you've done!" Hermione stated in shock - the brunette had known Harry since he was eleven, and knew his quirks very well.
"Why did Ginny give you a look?" Neville asked Luna. Luna whispered something in Neville's ear. Neville nodded briskly. Harry passed Paige into Luna's arms. Luna started humming. Harry recognised it immediately as Paige's eyes dropped and fell asleep as Luna cradled her. Luna smiled as her goddaughter drifted off.
"What's the lullaby?" Ginny asked.
"'Soul Kitchen' by The Doors." Harry replied, looking at Luna with a 'your craziness is part of why I love you' look.
"Muggle music..." Ginny, Neville and Ron chorused, amusedly faking bored looks.
"Hey!" Hermione pouted.
"I suppose you would change it to 'Foal Kitchen'?" Harry asked Luna. She beamed and nodded.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"The reason being is Ginevra Molly Longbottom here." Luna laughed. Ginny clicked.
"Luna..." she trailed, laughing the tiniest bit. "Alright, that is a bit funny." she finished.
"Thank you." Luna smiled. "Here's your little foal. I'm going to get a drink." she grinned, passing Paige to her mother. Luna walked into the waiting room on her way to the hospital canteen.
"Luna? Is that you?" a voice asked. Luna turned around. There, sitting on a chair, causal as can be, was Orla Whitby née Quirke. Orla's amber eyes glinted she ran a hand through her vivid black hair with prominent red streaks. "What are you doing here?" the brunette asked. Luna sat down on the chair next to Orla.
"In the short run? Getting a glass of water. In the long run, I'm here because Ginny Longbottom's just given birth and I'm being there for her as a close friend." the blonde replied.
"I'm taking it you're still part of the 'core six' and you guys are as tight as ever?" Orla questioned.
"Definitely. We're all here to brace Ginny through it. Actually she got through the miracle of childbirth a few minutes ago, and it's a girl." Luna smiled.
"That's so nice. What did Neville and Ginny name her?" Orla queried.
"Paige. Paige Samantha." Luna beamed. Orla noticed something in her fellow Ravenclaw's eyes.
"You're godmother, aren't you?" she grinned. Luna nodded ferociously, beaming once more.
"Yep. I didn't even know that Ginny had planned to make me and Harry godparents. But then again, I said that Ginny could be 'Meda's godmother when the both of us were in our OWL year, even though I wouldn't get pregnant for another ten years. So, knowing Ginny, she'd want to return the favour." she mused.
"'Meda?" Orla questioned. "I'm guessing that's a nickname for your daughter."
"It is. 'Meda's short for Andromeda - I named her after my mother. And she's... just my little star. Seriously. I love Harry as much as I did twenty-two years ago, but 'Meda is my angel. Honest to Merlin, Orla. She's such a split of me and Harry. A Ravenclaw with my brains and Harry's Gryffindor bravery. Luckily she'll use my brains to ace the first-year exams." Luna beamed.
"Not asking much of her, are you?" Orla teased.
"She's an eagle, so it's a safe bet. But whatever grade she gets, I'll be happy." Luna commented.
"It's the same with my son Jerry. I encourage him to do his best. Despite his placing in Hufflepuff, I think he'll use his brain to try on the first-year tests. Funny thing is, he takes after his father with the house aspect." Orla said.
"So who's the Hufflepuff you married?" Luna asked.
"Kevin Whitby. He was in my year. He's actually going through the final stages of an operation right now - that's why I'm here. I'm waiting." Orla replied, a miniscule touch of anxiety in her voice as she finished the sentence. Luna felt sympathy for her younger ex-housemate.
"Tell you what, I'll get you a drink to calm your nerves."
"Thanks Luna. It was fun to catch up. Give the others my best, even though I barely knew them." Orla laughed.
Luna smiled and walked to the canteen. She paid the four Knuts for the two cups of water, and drank hers.
"Here's your cup." the blonde said as she passed it to Orla.
"Thanks. Take care." Orla proclaimed.
"You too Orla. I hope Kevin's operation goes well." Luna finished with a final wave. Ginny huffed when her best friend came back in.
"Where were you? Paige missed hearing her Aunt Luna's lullaby." she smiled.
"Relax. I just happened to bump into an old housemate on my way to the canteen and we had a talk." Luna stated. "You won't know her." she continued, answering the questioning look.
"Sometimes it's a pain that you're not a Gryffindor alumnus." Harry joked.
"How about all the antics you five lions got up to?" Luna teased. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville looked at Luna with hardened faces. "I didn't feed my precious Harry Veritaserum! Would I do that?" she asked. The others shook their heads. "Well there you go! He's told me the stories as time passes." Luna beamed.
"Your precious Harry, hmm?" Harry laughed, hugging her.
"Well those stalkers have gone, and we're married, so yes." Luna grinned, her eyes alight with love.
"Harry, what did you tell her?" Ron pondered.
"Everything." Harry smiled.
"The feather?" Hermione asked.
"Yup." Harry beamed.
"The hearing?" Ron queried. Both Harry and Luna rolled their eyes at this.
"Definitely. Even 'Meda knows about that. Don't forget that Joan Corner is Amelia Bones' great-niece." Luna smirked. Hermione had an 'oh duh' expression on her face.
"And of course, about the starry-eyed expression on Neville's face as he came back up to the dorm on the Yule Ball night." Harry teased. Neville blushed. Ginny smiled.
"Well I'll stop loving Ginny when hell freezes over!" Neville grinned, a slightly nostalgic shine in his eyes. The others chorused 'Dumbledore's Army!' quietly and chuckled solemnly. Back at Hogwarts, tension was building in the Gryffindor common room.
"Rose." Raymond said, trying to get her attention. Rose ignored him, and continued her pacing. "Rose." Raymond said at a higher volume, tapping her on the shoulder. She jerked her head around. "You're scaring me." her companion stated. Rose's hair was unusually bushy - her Granger genes were coming out.
"Sorry Raymond, but I have to keep going over stuff in my brain." Rose breathed quickly, and went back to pacing. Emma Carmichael, a fellow Gryffindor that was a couple of years older than the newbies, gave Raymond a look. "Don't bother getting in her way." he mouthed. Emma nodded. She walked away, out of the Common Room. She felt a vague sense of drowsiness.
"Honeydukes chocolate to help perk up the fair lady?" Louis said, slanting against a wall - which happened to be next to the humpbacked witch. Emma didn't know about the part-Veela's obvious trick.
"I-I-thank you. Thank you very much." she said, taking the chocolate from Louis.
"Louis Weasley." he said, shaking Emma's hand.
"Emma Carmichael." she said, smiling. "We share the same Arithmancy class, don't we?" she realised. "I knew I recognised you."
"And you're sure that the strawberry-blonde hair wasn't a definite calling card in remembering me?" Louis laughed. He remembered 'Meda's words from February. Your genetics will get you in trouble one day. Emma chuckled.
"No." she said, taking a few bites of the chocolate. "Oh, Merlin... I love Honeydukes." she breathed. Louis gave her a smile.
"So Emma, do you have someone special in your life at the moment?" he asked - Louis wasn't jumping the gun, he genuinely liked Emma. She seemed lively in class, and her sea-green eyes glowed, helping her golden-brown hair frame her face. Said eyes glowed as Louis said this.
"Oh... oh! No, Louis. I'm not taken." Emma replied, a slight smile forming on her face.
"I was just wondering, because there's a Hogsmeade weekend soon." Louis stated.
"I'd be honoured." Emma grinned. Louis smiled - he could sniff the chocolate on her breath as she talked. A plan formed in his head.
"Are you craving more Honeydukes?" the part-Veela pondered. Emma nodded slowly.
"But surely you're out of it? You gave all of it to me." she reasoned. Louis laughed, and walked over to the humpbacked witch.
"Dissendium." he said clearly, tapping the statue with his wand. The statue opened enough to let them through. "C'mon." he beamed. Emma leant forward, and Louis gave her a literal leg-up to let her through to the passage. After he got through himself, he slid down the slide. Emma realised, and followed him. After a soft thud, she lit her wand. Louis was there, his wand alight. He smirked, and beckoned her to follow.
Soon enough they were underneath Honeydukes.
"Louis...?" Emma questioned. Louis prised the trapdoor open.
"Honeydukes chocolate, here we come! Well, here we are." he smiled. Emma's jaw dropped. Honeydukes! Louis wasn't kidding. He knew a shortcut.
"But... how?" she questioned. Louis had a look in his eye.
"Chocolate first, answers second." he said. Soon they'd gotten all the treats they wanted.
"Five Galleons. I'll pay." Emma said, before Louis could stop her. As they were eating chocolate in the corridor, Louis told her.
"My godcousin has a secret map of Hogwarts. She'll hex me if she founds out I've told, so keep that sealed."
"Who's your godcousin?" Emma queried.
"'Meda Potter. First-year Ravenclaw, jet-black hair, silver eyes." Louis replied, thinking 'Meda will hex me if she finds out about Emma. Then again, Emma's not my girlfriend, so those twenty Galleons are safe.
"I think I know her." Emma said.
"So... are we still on for Hogsmeade?" Louis asked.
"Definitely." Emma smiled, walking away and slipping Louis a wink. "Two's company." she joked.
"I'm onto you, Carmichael. I'll come up with a better pun." Louis proclaimed.
"Tell me in Arithmancy." Emma called. Louis was grinning as he walked off to the Gryffindor common room.
Despite what one might think, he actually admired Emma a lot, and she wasn't just a piece in Meda's bet puzzle. Indeed, that had just come into his head. Twenty Galleons wasn't much, but it was the principle of 'Meda not knowing about the whole Emma situation that mattered to Louis as far as the incident in February was concerned. A day later, three familiar Ravenclaws were walking towards vaguely familiar territory - the Hogwarts library.
"I guarantee you Rose will be in there!" Phillip half-moaned. 'Meda laughed, tossing her black hair back.
"I know we've revised it all, but what's the harm in double-checking our mental notes by re-reading the textbooks?" she queried. A raspberry-like noise followed this question - someone had clearly stuck their tongue out, and very much so.
"Phillip Christian Boot, how dare you!" 'Meda chided, looking at her male friend.
"That wasn't me! And I swear, I wouldn't doubt your idea!" he defended. Joan's eyes travelled upwards.
"Er... guys?" she whispered. 'Meda and Phillip looked at her. "Above us." Joan continued in a hushed voice. Hovering over the three was that captain of chaos, that ace of anarchy, Peeves.
"Don't - move." 'Meda breathed out of the corner of the mouth, laying her hand on her mahogany and phoenix feather wand.
"Waddiwasi!" she exclaimed. "Langlock!" the silver-eyed girl continued. Peeves was positively shot away. To 'Meda's immense surprise, Joan and Phillip were suddenly on their knees, bowing. "Oh come on you two. It wasn't that extraordinary." 'Meda sighed.
"Heaton, you're a genius! No-one would have come up with that!" Joan exclaimed. A dainty blush spread over Miss Potter's face. They walked into the library. Surprise, surprise, a certain brainiac was in there, proving Phillip right.
"Who expected you slackers to be here?" Rose hissed. The triad suddenly looked very ticked off.
"Well, unlike you, we don't count down the days to the 'precious' exams!" Joan said, her aqua eyes boring into Rose.
"Watch what you say, Miss Corner, or I shall... shall... explode." Rose replied calmly.
"Wow. Oxymoronic." Phillip smiled.
"Do you want us to walk out to see just how loud I can yell?" Rose queried.
"Merlin, no!" 'Meda answered. Phillip looked at her questioningly. "You really don't, though." 'Meda said, biting back a heavy laugh. Rose made a disgruntled noise.
"Right. To business." Joan said, walking over to the appropriate reference books and placing them on a table.
"Sorry to disappoint you Rose dear, but we have work to do!" 'Meda chirped pleasantly. The triad spent the next two hours going over suitable passages and seeing if their notes were on track.
That night the triad were surprised by Astraea flying in with a letter.
"Dear 'Meda, Joan and Phillip. There's a new addition to the Weasley-Longbottom-Potter-Lupin clan, Paige Samantha Longbottom. And 'Meda, despite what you, your parents and Teddy say every Christmas, you're family." 'Meda read.
"You seriously say that you're not part of the family?" Joan asked. 'Meda smiled guiltily.
"Yes. Ginny always drags us into the family photo, though. Now may I continue?" she joked.
"You may." Joan chuckled.
"As it happens, the Healer who delivered Paige also delivered you - we all got a shock from it. Paige is, in Hermione's words, a carbon copy of me. The others say that Merlin help us if she inherits my temper - the cheek!" 'Meda chuckled.
"Who is she to say 'the cheek'? Ginny knows what she's like when she's a strop." Phillip smiled.
"And as much as it may shock you three, a few days ago Luna dared suggest that 'Meda's cheeky side was due to my influence." At this, the silver-eyed Ravenclaw smiled slightly.
"Now Ginny has a fair point." Phillip joked.
"Hey!" 'Meda exclaimed.
"Stop that or I'll be confiscating your wands from both of you." Joan chirped. "Sorry Miss Corner." the other two chorused as though McGonagall had caught them in wrong-doing. Joan laughed merrily and flicked her hair back.
"Love and best wishes to all three of you, Ginny." 'Meda finished.
Rose was going hectic - some time had passed, and now it was Monday, June 18th.
"How? Just... how?" she questioned.
"How what, Rose?" Raymond asked gently.
"How can they be so calm? Laughing and joking!" Rose replied, her eyes glancing at where the Ravenclaw triad sat.
"Rose." Raymond said a neutral tone that made the Weasley girl look him full in the eye. "You take school too seriously. You'll do fine. Merlin, let some of your true Weasley side out from your dad." he proclaimed. Rose gazed at him in a Hermione-ish way. Raymond quivered. That morning's exam, Herbology, was a written paper, done under the eyes of the substitute, Professor Zeller. A bushy-haired redhead came out of that exam and into the Great Hall with her eyes filled with worry.
"Rose!" 'Meda exclaimed when she saw the Weasley daughter shaking like a leaf, and gestured her to come over to the Ravenclaw table.
"Oh, 'Meda... I know I failed that paper!" Rose near-sobbed. 'Meda gently embraced Rose and whispered words of comfort.
"A Calming Draught for you, I think." the Ravenclaw grinned, and walked up to the Hospital Wing.
"Why n-not go to Pr-Professor Nott?" Rose asked, hiccupping slightly.
"He's got it in for me. When he ordered me to McGonagall's office once, she realised he'd been slightly unfair and let me off. So Nott won't be happy to see me if I ask him for the potion." 'Meda replied. Madam Pomfrey half-smiled when she saw the two first-years.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Rose needs a Calming Draught, and fast. On second thought, make seven. I think she'll need one after each other exam. If she hasn't used all seven by Friday, I'll return the spares." 'Meda told her. Pomfrey nodded, smiling slightly for 'Meda's promise to give back spare Draughts. Once the potions were made, 'Meda handed Rose one, and hid the extra six in her robes.
"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey." the students said in unison, Rose looking calmer.
"On the bright side, it's the Flying test this afternoon." 'Meda beamed.
"J. O. Y." Rose pretended to mope, but she was clearly happy. After an enjoyable lunch 'Meda got out her good luck charm and looped it around her neck.
"Right. As this is a practical test, it'll seem like usual, but I'll be running it like a trial." Katie said when the class was on the field. "And it will be wandless." she demanded, summoning all the students' wands with a non-verbal Accio. Several groans were heard from the Slytherins.
After 'Meda's and Phillip's 'trials', Katie was beaming. Joan thought she heard a 'inherited Harry's and Demelza's talent' from the instructor. And with 'Meda's fair complexion, the young Potter didn't need to hear the murmur, otherwise she'd go crimson. When Carly Simon had to do the trial, she started mumbling stuff like 'I need a Gillywater to calm me down'.
"You don't need Gillywater. Just get up there." Katie encouraged. Carly flew, and wasn't half bad. Exams hurtled on and flew, Rose only needing two Draughts, and soon the students were walking out of the Transfiguration exam on Thursday.
"Ahh! Praise Merlin!" Phillip exclaimed.
"We have Friday's lessons before we leave. Don't count your Thestrals before they hatch." 'Meda reasoned.
"You drain all the fun out of people, 'Meda." Phillip groaned.
"I think Rose does that. And Aunt Hermione." 'Meda chuckled. Suddenly they heard a huff.
"Have a sense of humour, Rose." Phillip said, clearly clicking.
"There's a time for fun and a time to work, and right now it is the time to work." Rose snapped in a crisp voice.
"Off to the Gryffindor common room with you, Weasley." came the voice of Emma Carmichael. Rose turned around.
"Emma Carmichael one day you will..." she began, losing her voice mid-sentence.
"Lack in bravery? I think not. You, however, 'Rosie-Posie', should know better to challenge a superior. It's not wise. As these three clever Ravenclaws would know." Emma smiled, gesturing to the triad at the last few words upon seeing their robes. "And don't try to think of a witty remark." the third-year continued, still grinning.
"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." 'Meda said in an airy sing-song voice.
"I've heard things about you, Miss Potter." Emma beamed - she knew it was 'Meda from Louis' description.
"One question, Emma. Just how did you know about- oh I will kill Raymond!" Rose growled, thinking of something, storming off.
"Believe what you want, Rosie-Posie." Emma chuckled, walking away.
"Creative mind for a Gryffindor, that one." Joan laughed, jerking her thumb in Emma's direction. Friday went by in a blink of an eye, and soon the triad had their languagge prepared for the trip home on the Hogwarts Express. When the silver-eyed girl got the barrier, she could barely breath before being swept up in Harry's arms.
"Harry, put the poor girl down!" Luna chuckled. "Don't think you can get away from our company over the summer." Phillip laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it." 'Meda said pleasantly.
AN: Let the summer holidays begin! Mysteries that readers may think of from seeing situations in this chapter will surely be solved in time.