Harry woke on the Saturday morning to a bright and sunny kitchen, a large screetch owl perched on the table with a letter atttched to his leg.
Dear Harry,
Ron said he checked the Ministry and Hogwarts and there's nothing there, at least, if she's in Hogwarts she's hiding from everyone - even the ghosts - and no one in the Ministry's seen her. I checked all over the library, and nothing, I asked all the librarians but there's only one ghost there, the ghost of the daughter of the founder of the Library, Mr. Diagon - that's where the Ally was named for, originally it was most popular for the library than development... Rambling, sorry, anyway, neither Miss Diagon or any of the librarians had seen her, though Miss Diagon remembers her from when she was alive.
So its just Astoria left right? I assume you've already gone to the grave unless it's a horrible sort of trip to get there but I'd assume they'd have no protection or people might find it.
Anyway, must dash, Hugo scraped his knee.
Love Hermione.
Harry folded up the letter and stuck it in his pocket, thinking. All that means is Astoria is their last hope for finding Charlotte Arden. The owl went to perch on the large branch hanging from the roof with food and water for their family owl. He was in their Kitchen, ready for a quiet weekend without Ginny, he would claim if yo asked him that he loved his wife, but he was always more relaxed when she was away at training with the harpies - since she used to be on the team she now likes to do inside exclusives for the profit.
Lily had been up early, early enough to recognise Hermione's owl as it swooped through the window.
"Aunt Ninny, Aunt Ninny!" She exclaimed, being taught by Ron to call Hermione that (Ron had also taught Albus to call her Aunt Hermy and James to call her Aunt Hermy-own) Simply becasue it annoyed her.
Harry went about fixing his daughter breakfast as she babbled on about this and that, announcing she had some drawing she wanted to send to her bothers and Harry promised to write them that night.
She asked about Ginny. "Daddy where's Mummy?"
"At work for the weekend, iss Lil," Harry explained and Lily nodded.
"Just us this weekend?" She asked hopefully and Harry nodded.
His thoughts turned back to Ginny, he did love her, loved their family together. But he didn't think he was enough for her anymore. He wanted a quiet life and she still wanted to be married to the Harry Potter. He didn't like the stories she told their kids about the boy who lived - stories Molly used to tell her when she was only a baby. He couldn't blame her for sharing that with their kids - but she was telling them stories about how their grandparents died and he didn't like it.
It wasn't all bad. Ginny was still a no nonsense sort of person and she still made him laugh, just those times were growing less and less frequent.
George smiled as Astoria wandered into the shop.
"Hello dear lady!" George bowed to her, causing her to blush. Astoria was perhaps one of his most favourite custoers, and not only becasue her pockets were deep, they younger woman enjoyed their products as much as her son.
"Mr. Weasley," She greeted him, George pulled a face at her. He'd told her so many times to call him George.
"Astoria you do my youth no favors by calling me that, Mr. Weasley is my father!" He announced.
"George then, you silly old man," Astoria teased, "Now what do you have for my Scorpius today?" George smiled at her, lifiting a box from under the countertop.
"Why, Weasleys Wizard Wheezes is proud to present the fabulous miniature, toothless, pet dragon!"
The item itself was no bigger than a man's hand and was a tiny replica of a real dragon - whatever breed you like. It was in a small clear box, and when it went to breath fire goopy liquid came out in random colors, staining whatever it hit.
"lovely to let loose on your dorm mates while they sleep, or perhaps run rampart in dad's wardrobe?" George suggested. "Stains are temporary, of course, and will dissapear in twenty four hours."
That was the Selling point. She gave him seven galleons with a smile and he happily gift wrapped the present and handed it to her.
"Astoria, a word, if you would be so kind?" George asked before she could turn to go.
"Of course." She said, a look of concern fliting across her face at the uncharachteristic seriousness of his tone.
"Harry went to your house last week, looking for Charlotte Arden," George began nonchalantly but he was watching the woman's face. "Mr. Malfoy kicked him out pretty quick, any idea why?" George asked, she frowned, sighed.
"He's looking for Charlotte Arden?" Astoria said, shaking her head "her ghost perhaps. In the manor, she haunts the fourth floor library, I won't tell you more, even if I knew the story. That is Draco's business."
"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy," George said sincerely, "And give my best to Scorp!"
She smiled and hurried from the shop. George hurried to his apartment above the shop and wrote to Harry.