Chapter 10: Scale

Gin sat at the portkey station in London, ignoring her sister and her mum. Both of them were looking at the wedding magazines that her mum had obtained from her publishing colleagues, working on ideas for Minnie's wedding. Even though she had a wedding of her own to plan, eventually, she just couldn't muster even a fake level of enthusiasm for all of the details yet. She had more important things to think about, specifically her gallery opening. After setting down her WUMP she noticed her ring again and smiled. Now that she had the engagement ring back she hadn't removed it once, not even when painting. She'd contacted Cho Greene and had received the information on a charm that essentially covered her hands like a glove; after trying the spell she wondered why she'd never thought of it before, as it would have saved her hands many times over.

Of course her family was happy for her when she and Hugo broke the news, and as she expected neither her parents nor Hugo's were particularly surprised. It would make an interesting conversation with Minnie, though, when their stupid bloody portkey finally activated. She flipped open the guidebook she'd borrowed from her father and looked up the entry for Pryderi.

Pryderi, Wales

Home of the Pryderi School for Magical Education, established 1536.

Founded as a reaction to the Acts of Union (Y Deddfau Uno 1535 a 1542 in Welsh), specifically Section 20 of the 1535 Act that made English the only language of the law courts. Although magical Wales co-existed peacefully with their Muggle countrymen, the adoption of English law in Wales created a desire amongst the magical community to preserve the Welsh ways of life. Pryderi is a much smaller institution than Hogwarts (for Hogwarts entry see Magical Guide to Scotland, pg. 128) but continues with the traditional subjects.

Located in the mountains, Pryderi is kept away from Muggles by a very ingenious Muggle-repelling enchantment as well as other enchantments which remain secret to this day. The school is located within the borders of the magical community of Pryderi and is only accessible via portkey to visitors. Beginning in approximately 1840 students are transported to the school by rail originating in Cardiff from the Crockherbtwon station, travelling overland for some time until entering the mountains and arriving at Pryderi at the underground rail station.

Housing

Student and staff housing differs from the traditional form due to the limitations of size and budget for the Pryderi educational institution. Students are housed in the main building, in dormitory wings separated by sex and level. Students level 1 and 2 are housed together, levels 3 and 4 are also housed together whilst all students level 5 and above have their own dormitories. The Head maintains an office and living quarters in the school, but other instructors reside in the school provided cottages that stand less than a mile away from the facilities. Male and Female living quarters exist in the facilities for the rotating staff members who have been assigned overnight duties.

The guidebook flew out of Gin's hands and she looked up to see Mione standing there, hair pulled back and irritated.

"You're not helping, Gin. Here." She handed Gin a copy of Witchy Weddings. "Come on, we've only got a few months."

Gin rolled her eyes. "Bugger off. Is it time for the portkey?"

"Five minutes."

"So I'm going to come up with some wonderful idea after looking at this" Gin flipped through the magazine "this wonderful thing in five minutes? I'm sure you two have it covered. Besides, Mum said she might do a Muggle wedding."

Mione fixed her with a stare. "She's your sister, too. Do you want me to tell Mum you're being difficult?"

Gin sat back and crossed her legs. "Do you want me to tell Mum I found empty packaging for a Muggle pregnancy test in the rubbish?"

Mione's eyes grew wide. After a very long pause she lowered her chin and stared at her sister. "You wouldn't."

"Try me." Gin handed her the magazine and stood up. "Besides, it's time to go see about that portkey now."

Gin stood in the Pryderi portkey station and watched her Mum and sister take one of the two fireplaces to Floo to her sister's place. After Mione disappeared in the green flames of the Floo Gin stepped into the fireplace, took a pinch of Floo powder and said "Pryderi Instructor Cottage Four."

The smell of freshly-baked bread hit her as soon as the green flames of the Floo died down. She stepped out of the fireplace and was greeted warmly by her little sister Minnie. As the sisters congratulated each other on their engagements Gin saw Mione wave her wand at the small kitchen table, causing a breadknife to float in the air. "Come on, Min, we need to get started before Mione eats all of the bread."

"I was not going to eat it all." Mione glared at Gin.

"Girls, please try to get along." Melody sat down at the kitchen table. "Now sit down."

As Minnie served tea and made small sandwiches from the still wonderful smelling bread Gin took a look around her sister's place. Her first London apartment, the one she'd lived in while working at Witch Weekly was small, but Minnie's place wasn't much bigger. The first thought that came to her mind was that an interior decorator looking for an example of twentieth century quaint should just take a picture of Minnie's cottage; it looked like something out of the BBC period dramas that Mary Caroline always forced Gin to watch. After looking at the place further, though, Gin realized that it fit her little sister Minnie perfectly. Everything was in its proper place, the cottage was very neat and dusted, an old wireless hummed along in the small sitting room. No WeasleyVision but a good amount of bookshelf space.

Mione spread out several of the wedding magazines on the table and started pointing out dresses, but Gin just watched Minnie's face as it was obvious to her that Mione's suggestions were going to fall on deaf ears. Minnie was being polite, looking at the pictures that Mione had marked, but finally Gin couldn't take it anymore.

"Minnie, what kind of wedding do you and Alan want? You're getting married in Stintborough, right?" She looked over at Mione. "Did you ask her or just start planning?"

"Of course I asked her. " Mione gave her an irritated look which quickly faded. "Well, I wrote her…"

"Girls." Melody took off her glasses and put them on the table.

"Gin's right. Sorry, Mione." She pushed her long hair over her shoulder. "Alan's parents are Muggles, and we are getting married in Stintborough, the little Presbyterian church, you know the one. His family wouldn't understand if we did it here in Pryderi, where we wanted to. Well, his grandparents wouldn't understand; they don't know he's a wizard. They'll all be coming in from Liverpool, so we've decided to book all of the rooms at the inn down in the village. They won't have much business over Christmas holiday, right Mum?"

Melody nodded. "I've already talked to Hamish, it's all arranged. He did nick me for a little more money, late bookings and all, but I got him to come down on the catering."

"Then why am I even here?" Mione sat back, exasperated.

Minnie shook her head. "Because you're the Maid…"

"Matron." Gin grinned at her little sisters.

"Right, the Matron of Honor." Minnie shook her head at her sister. "Besides, we went through all the fairy princess dresses for your wedding. This is my wedding."

For the next few hours they settled into a nice but somewhat hectic planning session for Minnie's wedding. Gin still couldn't believe that her sister had picked Christmas Eve to get married, but it did make things easier for her, as well as her parents, as she and Hugo hadn't talked about setting a date, let alone a location. If her mum had to do two weddings in a year she feared for her father's sanity. Mione would be the Matron of Honor and Gin would stand up with her as well. It was to be a very small wedding party, and a small wedding at that, which didn't surprise her. Minnie had enjoyed Mione's big bash with Scorpius, but she knew that Minnie liked things on a much smaller scale. That thought made her chuckle to herself, because her little twin sisters were definitely living on different scales. Mione was the professional Quidditch player and lived with Scorpius at giant, rambling Forthingsgate while Minnie taught at Pryderi and lived in a very small, but cozy, cottage.

After a few hours Mione took a look at her watch and sighed. "Crap. I have to leave soon. I wish I could stay but I promised Scorpius…"

"It's ok, Mione." Minnie smiled at her twin. "What is it again, a reception?"

"Yes, another stuffy Ministry thing, posh dress, heels, hair, you name it. At least Mrs. Sawgrass will be there, I swear sometimes she's the only one that keeps me sane at those things."

"I must be going, too." Melody closed her little notebook and sat the quill down on the table. "I promised Lavinia and Will that I would stop over for dinner."

After the all of the goodbyes were said, and letters promised, the Floo once again roared to life in Minnie's little cottage leaving Gin and Minnie alone for the first time in ages.

"That went about as well as expected." Minnie grinned at Gin. "As much as she acts like she doesn't care Mione sure goes in for all the girly trappings."

"Who could guess that underneath the tough exterior of a Beater there lies a fairy princess." Gin smoothed her bangs out of her face. "So, Alan. I've seen some pictures and heard about him from everyone else, what's he like?"

"You'll meet him soon. He's coming over for supper." She gathered the magazines from the table and organized them in a little stack. "What should I do with these?"

"They don't work well for starting fires. Well, a couple of them do, but watch out for the ones that have the perfume samples. That was horrible." Gin looked around the cottage. "You don't have much storage or I'd suggest just holding on to them for a bit until after the wedding. In case Mione shows up."

"Yes, it is small, but I like it." Minnie pursed her lips and looked over to one of the bookcases. "I think I'll put them away with their spines on the inside. Don't want Alan thinking I've gone all wedding mad on him."

Alan Finnegan sat across from Gin, placed his napkin on the table and made a great show of pushing him self back in his chair and patting his stomach. "I don't know how your father isn't twenty stone, that was wonderful."

"You've had Minnie's cooking, not Mum's. We learned from Dad and Grandmum Karen, not Mum." Gin draped her arm over one corner of the tall part of the back of her plain, wooden chair and looked at Minnie. "Can't wait to see him and Hugo together at a dinner table; that will be a sight."

"Merlin." Minnie laughed. "She is right, Alan, Mum's much better according to Dad but she's still not a very good cook."

"My Mum's not bad, but she's nowhere as good as Minnie." Alan stood up. "And after we're married I know what my role will be. Gin, would you mind handing me your plate?"

As Alan took the dishes into the kitchen and began cleaning Gin looked over to Minnie and shook her head. "You spoiled little chicken."

Minnie raised her eyebrows and smiled. "What can I say?" She glanced over into the kitchen to make sure Alan wasn't listening and wiggled her finger for Gin to lean in close. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "He was horrible at the household spells at first. Broke three dishes. Much better now. I'd better go help him."

Gin smiled as she watched Alan and Minnie interact. They were very courteous around each other, but not in a stilted manner; it was the civility of two people who spent a lot of time in close quarters. There were quite a few 'pardon me' and 'behind you' and 'coming through' comments, and after everything had been squared away Gin brought over two glasses, a bottle of firewhiskey and a butterbeer and sat down at the table. Alan joined her shortly thereafter with a spiral bound notebook, a Muggle pen and a deck of playing cards. The Muggle pen made Gin think of her father, and she knew that Alan and her father would probably get along well. Minnie sat the butterbeer in front of Alan while he flipped through the pages of the notebook until he found an empty space and tore out one page. As he wrote their names at the top of the paper Minnie poured out the firewhiskey and slid her over a glass.

"Firewhiskey doesn't agree with Alan." She looked over at him and smiled. "But he did try…"

"And I paid for it the next day." He took out the cards, shuffled them and nodded towards Gin. "I had no idea your sister could drink like that."

Gin laughed. "Yeah, we're alike that way. Hugo's learned not to try and keep up."

"And how is Hugo?" Minnie took a sip of firewhiskey. "Oh, that's good. Is he an Auror yet? Sorry, you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know, no offense. He's taking his exam soon, the one that tells them what area he's best suited for, you know, to specialize in." She reached for her glass of firewhiskey, bangles jangling together, and took a sip. "Oh, that is rather good. How old is that?"

Minnie turned the bottle around on the table. "The label says it is a ten year old firewhiskey, but the label is dated, um, twenty years ago."

"Merlin's pants, no wonder." Gin caught Alan looking at her ring, so she eyed Minnie. "You did tell him that Hugo and I are engaged? Again."

"Again?" Alan put his hand on Minnie's arm. "You didn't tell me that. You just told me your crazy older sister went crackers in Italy, assumed another identity in the American south and somehow or other managed to become engaged to Ronald and Hermione Weasley's son. Oh, and she's opening two art galleries with her bohemian business partner, and it is just a business partnership despite all the sordid rumors. Typical stuff, really, artistic temperaments and all that. Didn't mention that it was the second engagement."

Gin pointed her drink at Alan and looked at Minnie. "Oh, I like him. Well done. So what are we playing?"

"Hearts." Minnie smirked. "We've been playing and keeping score ever since we met. Played on our first date, actually."

"Wow, you two are so romantic." Gin and Minnie giggled together. "So am interrupting your progress?"

"No, I need a break. She's taken me to the shed the last few times, I got it good." Alan stopped and realized what he'd said. As Minnie blushed Gin laughed, and Alan kept the same expression. After Gin had stopped laughing he started to say something, paused, and nodded. "I think I'll just stop on that note. Cards, yes?"

After telling Gin how much he enjoyed meeting her and playing cards, especially as he'd managed to win every game, Alan kissed Minnie and bade the sisters goodnight. Standing at the doorway Minnie watched him walk through the crisp October air to his cottage down the lane, giving Gin another chance to watch her sister. It was obvious that she was happy, and thinking about that made her think of Hugo. Once Minnie was convinced that Alan was safe at his little cottage the sisters changed into their sleeping attire and sat on the small sofa for their late-night discussion. Gin had expected that, as of her sisters Minnie was the one who was more likely to want to stay up and visit; Mione would rather sleep. What did surprise Gin was that after settling in with a blanket Minnie got up and brought over two individual liters of ice cream and spoons.

They stayed up most of the night talking and polishing off the ice cream, trading off after working their way through half of the container. Gin teased Minnie about being a cliché of the bookish teacher all alone eating ice cream so Minnie answered back with Gin being a cliché of the flaky artist. Eventually they got down to 'the brass tacks' as their father liked to say, and Gin told Minnie about everything that had happened, thankful that her sister listened very empathetically about certain parts.

"You know, even when you were away pretending to be Leda, nice choice of names by the way, even when you wouldn't answer any of the letters that I wrote you, I still had a feeling in the back of my mind that you and Hugo would find your way back to each other." Minnie took a big spoonful of ice cream. "Ifvh mhehan…"

"Eat, then talk, Min." Gin leaned back on the sofa. "I'm glad you had faith because I didn't."

Minnie closed her eyes tightly and puckered her lips. After a moment she shook her head. "Sorry, brain freeze. So have you two set a date yet? And where are you getting married?"

"No clue, both counts. Haven't talked about it, actually, we've both been so busy. Gallery is opening soon, we've been looking at flats in London, he's in training…guess we'll need to do that eventually, huh?"

"If you don't you'll have Mione planning it for you."

"Bloody hell, no. She'd put me in some frilly white dress with a train…can you see me in that?"

Minnie laughed. "Oh yes, I can. I can also see how completely miserable you'd be, too…you know, I do have those magazines on the bookshelf…"

"Go piss up a rope." Gin nudged her with her foot. "So you ready for yours? I have a feeling the next year or so is going to be interesting for Mum and Dad. You're getting married on Christmas Eve, Hugo and I will be getting married, Mione…well, I probably shouldn't say anything."

Minnie nudged Gin back with her foot. "What's going on with Mione? She hasn't said anything to me, and, well, you know she still tells me everything. You'd think as busy as she is I'd never hear from her, but I get letters all the time."

"I swear she must have four owls, I hear from everybody that she sends them. Must keep them in a special wing at Forthingsgate."

"You didn't tell me what's going on with Mione."

Gin debated on whether to tell Minnie, but the fact that she and Hugo were still living at Forthingsgate with Mione and Scorpius held her back. "I really can't say anything, just a thought. If I'm right it'll come out soon enough."

"Fine, don't tell me." Minnie leaned back into the sofa arm. "So how's it been living with Mione and Scorpius? You and Hugo are looking for a place, right?"

"It's ok, you know Forthingsgate. We're in Mum's old wing, the one she used to hide out in when she and Grandmum Lane were on the outs. Hardly see Mione or Scorpius, actually, they're so busy with their jobs. Maybe you can help me look; you've got a good eye for things. When you and Alan come up for the Gallery opening." Minnie made a 'sorry' face and Gin knew. "You're staying in Pryderi, right?"

"It's so hard to get away, plus Alan's on duty that weekend. Staying at school, male instructor on duty, all that. Sorry."

Gin shook her head. "No worries. Hopefully when you can come to the gallery it'll have a few more paintings, well, more of the kind of things I like. Right now we've got an artist who's showing that only paints landscapes of the Potter Trail."

"Why don't you and your partner, Mary?"

"Mary Caroline. Merlin help you if you just call her Mary."

"I'll try to remember that." Minnie took the last bite of ice cream from the pint. "Why don't you and Mary Caroline show some of your pieces? Only the ones you want to sell, of course."

"I don't know." Gin ran her hands through her hair. "I don't know if we're ready to show."

"You'll never know if you don't try, Gin. And not just about your paintings. I'm really glad you and Hugo are together again."

"Thanks, Sis. You did a pretty good job, too."