Wheels Within Wheels—Part Two
Kendra and Lily
Chapter Ten
Harry Facilitates Happiness, Somehow, and Has Some Explaining To Do
Harry and Daphne apparated onto the front step of #12 Grimmauld Place. Kreacher opened the door immediately.
"Welcome home, Master Harry and Chief of Service Healer Daphne, and congratulations," Kreacher said.
"Thank you, Kreacher, you're very kind," Daphne said. She looked at Harry. Harry shook his head slightly. Elves, like the portraits, had their own methods. Harry did not pry.
"I propose to remove my robe and tie," Harry said.
"Cape, shoes and gloves," Daphne said.
"Good, because I don't want to stop looking at you in that gown," said Harry.
"Trix?" Daphne called out.
"Trix is here, Miss Daphne," said the little elf.
Daphne handed her the cape and shoes, and Harry removed his wand and gave Kreacher his robe, stuffing his tie in a trouser pocket. The elves took the clothes upstairs while Daphne and Harry moved to the salon.
"Good time?" Harry asked, laying the baton on a bookshelf. He thought he knew the answer.
"Pffft! Potter!" Daphne scoffed. "I'm the youngest Chief of any service at St. Mungo's since the Black Death, and that group got promoted because everyone else succumbed. I went to see some of my patients, and they responded in a way no one has seen them do in over ten years. My date, the Head Auror, holds the Order of Merlin, First Class, and he carries a baton. He is an imposing physical specimen, and both smart and handsome. I did mention the HEAD AUROR took me to the ball, didn't I? We went to the opening event of the magical London season, sat at a table with my parents, my beautiful sister, and her most photogenic fiancé, and we made Mother and Father very proud and happy. My date's aurors gave us a standing ovation, just for walking in the room. Yeah, I had a good time."
Daphne reached for Harry, just as a series of 'pops' sounded from the front steps.
"We'll just save that," Harry said, as he stood up from his chair.
Ron and Hermione, Neville and Hannah, and Draco and Astoria filed in. Kreacher and Trix took robes and capes to the coat room off the central hall. Those who were familiar with the previous décor in the salon ooohed and ahhhed when they saw the changes. Harry saw that everyone had something to drink, then he caught Daphne off to the side.
"Should we take Astoria and Draco to see Madame?" he asked.
"Now's as good a time as any, I suppose," Daphne said. "Kreacher?"
Kreacher apparated with a "Kreacher is here, Miss Daphne."
"Would it be a good time to make some introductions to Madame Black?" Daphne asked. "My sister Astoria hasn't met her before. Mr. Draco is Madame's grand-nephew, and he will want to pay his respects."
"Kreacher will be happy to speak to Mistress Black," Kreacher said.
Harry and Daphne waited until Kreacher pulled off the drape over the portrait and explained who was waiting to speak to Walburga.
"POTTER!" Walburga said, with her perpetual air of consternation. "And Daphne, my dear, you are so beautiful tonight, so much like Kendra, except the blond hair of course. Did you have a good time at the ball?"
"Madame, it was wonderful. So many wizards and witches, beautiful gowns, handsome robes, I was so proud to represent the House of Black before the Minister for Magic and the cream of British wizardry. Now, I have a young couple I'd like to bring by and introduce. One I think you already know. Is now a good time?"
"Of course, dear, I could wait up all night if you thought it important," said Walburga.
Daphne left to fetch Draco and Astoria, leaving Harry alone with Walburga.
"How did you do, Potter?" Walburga asked.
"I'm not objective, but I can tell you how it went. I wore my Order of Merlin rosette, carried the baton to which I am entitled as Head Auror, and was announced by the ministry herald as Lord Potter-Black, before the Minister of Magic and the usual kinds of people who attend the St. Mungo's Ball. My escort, besides being the most beautiful witch in all of Britain, was named St. Mungo's Chief of Service for mental maladies during the dinner. I hope we brought some credit to our house."
Walburga said nothing, then, "It's a start."
Daphne returned with Draco and Astoria.
"Madame Walburga, may I present my sister, Astoria, also a Slytherin witch, and her intended, Master Draco Malfoy, the son of Lucius and Narcissa, and your grand-nephew, I believe."
Astoria curtsied and said, "An honor, Madame."
"Hullo, children, and welcome to #12 Grimmauld Place. Daphne has me up to date on Kendra, but what can you tell me about Narcissa, Draco? It has been such a long time."
"Mother is fine, Aunt Walburga. I'll tell her all about meeting you again. I'm sure she'll be thrilled," Draco said.
"And you've been to the ball?" Walburga asked.
"Yes, we had Astoria's mother and father, Lord and Lady Greengrass, Harry and Daphne, and Mr. Neville Longbottom and Miss Hannah Abbott at our table, right in front of the dais. I believe we attracted some attention. The good kind, of course," said Draco.
The Walburga in the portrait turned to Astoria.
"Astoria, your mother and I go 'way back. You remind me so much of her. You have the look of Slytherin House, dear. You are nobility, and you look it. You and Draco are in love, that shows, too. Come and see me when you visit Daphne, won't you? I'll let you get back to your party, dears, thank you for taking the time."
"Well, thank you very much, Madame Walburga," Daphne said. "We'll let you get some rest."
With that, she shepherded the group away from the portrait, and gave Kreacher a little nod.
"Daphne, one more thing?" Walburga called out. Daphne came back to the portrait.
"We won't bother tonight, but Lord Black mentioned you might want this portrait in place of the small one, that was in the study. If you'd like me in there with you, you can move this one with wingardium leviosa, anytime you're ready."
"Wonderful!" said Daphne. "We'll take care of it tomorrow! Good night."
Another pair of 'pops' rang out just as Kreacher stepped off his stool. He opened the door and saw Ginny Weasley.
"Kreacher!" Ginny said. "Meet Millicent Bulstrode. That's Professor Millicent Bulstrode, of Hogwarts. Millicent, this is Kreacher."
"Welcome, Miss Ginny, it has been far too long," Kreacher said. "Let Kreacher take your capes and hang them in the cloakroom. Master Harry and Miss Daphne are in the salon."
Daphne had gotten back to the hall as Kreacher finished his greeting.
"You came—wonderful!" said Daphne. "Come on in. What can we get you to drink?"
"Mineral water," said Ginny.
"Same, thanks," said Millicent.
Everyone stayed engaged for the next half hour, relating personal experiences of their evening at the St. Mungo's Ball. Ginny spent some time cementing relations with Ron and Hermione, dispensing pats and hugs and kisses and ribald patter until both were back, completely under the spell of the Weasley family's charismatic quidditch star. Kreacher brought a platter of warm pasties and put it on the buffet. Hermione kept count of Ron's consumption, cutting him off after three.
Harry was taking some plates to the kitchen for washing when Ginny caught him in the hall.
"Can I take Millicent on a tour, Harry? She's never been to #12 Grimmauld Place before."
"Sure, take her around, show her the place," Harry said. "Anywhere except the study, that's Daphne's and I don't go in unless she is there. There is a gym in that bedroom next to the master. I put it in. Kind of proud of it, if you want to check it out."
Ginny turned to retrieve Millicent.
"Oh, Ginny," Harry said, keeping his voice down. "You and Millicent are welcome to spend the night. Neville and Hannah are staying. Kreacher will take care of breakfast in the morning. If you decide you want to, take your old room, the one you shared with Hermione, top of the stairs. It has its own bath. Kreacher cleaned it yesterday, beds changed, new soap, towels and washcloths."
Ginny nodded. "Thanks, Harry," she muttered.
Eventually, Draco, Astoria, Ron and Hermione departed #12. Hannah and Neville turned in upstairs. Harry and Daphne checked everything downstairs, looked in on Kreacher, who already had the pots, pans, dishes, glassware and utensils washed and drying in the racks.
Climbing the stairs, Daphne noticed the door to the double room at the top was closed, and a little light was leaking under the gap at the bottom. Soft mutterings were coming through as well. Daphne grabbed Harry by the arm and more or less frog-marched him to the master bedroom. She closed and locked the door, and cast muffliato.
"You know what you're in here for, Head Auror, so give it up," Daphne said, as if she truly believed she sounded like a tough interrogator.
Harry thought about what he was going to say. There wasn't that much, but he feared he'd get bogged down in details. It involved time travel! Just thinking about it got complicated.
"Okay. Ginny and I broke up. It was inevitable. We knew we had fundamental differences, but we talked and talked and it was never clear why. We couldn't define it, so we couldn't fix it. I just accepted that I was never going to know.
"Then, the night those guys who couldn't fight showed up at Greengrass Manor, I stepped out of our timestream into 1918, where I met a timestream repair specialist named James Potter, and asked him what we were all doing, over in his timestream, and he told me Harry Potter in his timestream got dumped because Ginny and Millicent were together. He also said Millicent was DADA professor at Hogwarts.
"He's also the one who explained timestreams are like traveling companions, similar to one another, but no two are exactly alike. When you swapped the portraits in the Slytherin dormitory, and Walburga told me Millicent was the new Slytherin head of house, as well as Defense professor, I decided, if the chance came along, I'd see how far our similarities went.
"I confess, there is a selfish element. If there was any way it was possible, I had to relieve you of any lingering doubts about Ginny and me. Whenever you showed a little emotion over…if it was going to cause you distress, I was compelled to put it to rest. That, and the loose end of what Ginny's and my fundamental difference was. You're the human behavior expert. Anything you can identify? Anything jump out?"
"Harry Potter," Daphne said. She took several long breaths without saying anything. "Harry…POTTER," she concluded, with a slap to her thigh.
"Did you have a plan, for any of this?"
"Nope," Harry said. "I didn't know either one of them would be there tonight. I didn't know about the lunch prize until I read the list. You caught me, fair and square, trying to enchant the ticket book so Millicent would win the lunch with Ginny Weasley, but I had no idea if it would work or not. I just thought it up on the spot. If I could treat Millicent and Ginny to lunch, I kind of figured they'd sort the rest out for themselves.
"That's why I wouldn't give anything up until I saw how it would turn out. I'd never tried to manipulate a drawing before. I didn't know how I was going to get my ticket book into Millicent's possession, either, then she did that for me when she complained about Draco and me buying all the tickets. If she'd complained to Draco, instead of me…
"My magic is not exquisitely subtle, as you know. It leans toward the crash-and-bang variety. My wand can be a deep thinker, though. You know what it feels like when it really gets interested in something.
"Anyway, that is the surprise. You were patient, so, you qualified for the surprise.
"Now, can I…" Harry got up and crossed the room to Daphne. "I have been watching you with your perfect hair and perfect gown and perfect nails and perfect pearls, all night, and all I can think of right now is giving you a kiss. Is that okay?"
"Um-hmm," Daphne said. "That is the only reason I went to all the trouble."
After dispensing the kiss, Harry continued holding Daphne.
"I know the protocol is we have to let Draco and Astoria do all their social stuff and get married before the way is clear for us. I have to tell you, though, however that meeting at Gringott's came about, it doesn't matter to me, my instincts say we were destined for this. Let Draco and Astoria take as long as they need.
"It won't change anything. I love you. I'm powerless before it."
Daphne dug her fingers into Harry's back. He let her because the pain brought him down to earth a little bit.
Harry heard Daphne sniff, once, twice. She stepped back.
"Harry, I'm having a little happy cry, and my makeup is going to run onto your beautiful shirt."
They both thought that was funny, and softly laughed.
"Then I'd better take it off," Harry said. Unbuttoning his shirt, he stood in front of the landscape Daphne had kept when she and Kreacher had redecorated. Harry addressed the two deer that stood very still, looking out from the painting.
"Leave," he said, "and you can take your black dog with you. We'll handle this next part without your help."
Later, they had both dozed off when they were awakened by voices from the gym next door. Someone said, "It's got to be all one motion! Pull UP and get me off balance, THEN throw your hip," followed by a loud THUMP, and the sound of two people laughing.
"They've decided to check out the dojo," Harry said.
Everyone slept fairly late on Sunday. Harry was in the kitchen with Kreacher making scrambled eggs when Millicent walked in, wearing one of the bathrobes Harry had asked Kreacher to provide.
"Thought I heard someone," she said. "You wouldn't have any coffee, would you?"
Kreacher poured a cup and brought it to Millicent.
"Here you are, Professor Bulstrode. Did you find everything you needed for your stay at Grimmauld Place?"
"I did. You thought of everything, Kreacher," Millicent said.
Ginny walked in, in the other bathrobe, still toweling her hair.
"I smell coffee," she declared, with the clear implication that someone could drop what they were doing and bring her a cup.
"Does Miss Ginny still like her coffee the same way, one lump of the turbinado, a little skim milk?" Kreacher asked as he poured coffee in another cup.
"Yes, Kreacher, thank you for remembering," Ginny said, a little amazed.
Daphne came in, stopped, yawned, and looked around at Millicent and Ginny in bathrobes, and Harry in a track suit, scrambling eggs.
"Harry Potter," Daphne said. "The company you keep."
"What's that mean?" Millicent snapped.
"We're officially decent," Ginny declared. She shook the lapel of her bathrobe. "Look-we're even wearing clothes."
Millicent semi-whooped at that.
"We'll have food up in a minute or two," Harry said. "So, why don't we send Trix into the study with a tray? Take your coffee and relax in there for now."
The witches left the kitchen, letting Kreacher and Harry get on with preparing breakfast. Harry called for Trix when he had a tray of eggs, toast and a carafe of coffee ready, and sent her to deliver it to the study. Neville and Hannah came downstairs.
"The witches are convened in that room across the hall, Hannah," Harry said, and Hannah left.
"Thanks, Harry," Neville said, as he accepted a cup of coffee. "We'll have to go check on Gran, then get back to Hannah's project at the pub. That was a great night, especially when you had Dad run through his auror's forms. We had just about despaired of ever getting him and Mum back, until Daphne became their attending. Now it looks like they might get to come home someday."
"Wait right there a minute," Harry said. He went to the salon and got a box of Seamus and Dean note cards, a quill and a bottle of ink from the cabinet beneath the buffet.
"I knew these would come in handy," Harry said when he got back to the kitchen. He took a card out and wrote:
"Madame Augusta,
Congratulations on the well-deserved gold medal. Thank you, from both of us, for your many years of service to St. Mungo's.
Best wishes always,
Harry Potter
Daphne Greengrass"
Harry handed the card, and an envelope, to Neville.
"Think that's okay?" he asked, as Neville read it.
"She'll probably send me out to my late grandfather's wood shop to make a frame for it," Neville said with a bit of a snort. "These old ladies, Harry. Maybe I shouldn't tell you, but, they're your groupies."
"Don't forget, you need to interrogate Madame Augusta and find us a place to take your parents. Someplace they can tolerate. We'll get them out of those hospital robes and let them feel a country lane underfoot again. Or a beach. Sidewalk," Harry told Neville, as he ran out of suggestions for outings.
Hannah came back into the kitchen, broadcasting energy.
"Longbottom Manor?" she asked Neville. "I'm about done with being dressed for the ball, even though I am quite beautiful in this gown."
Harry and Neville both recognized a cue when they heard it and teamed up to reinforce Hannah's self-assessment.
"Thank you for taking us, Harry," Hannah said. "I really needed to look pretty and kick up my heels. The Leaky Cauldron, I love the place, but after awhile…"
"My pleasure, and we helped Daphne with ticket sales, so how many wins is that? What's the best day for a lunch special this week?"
"Every day!" Hannah and Neville said in unison.
After Neville and Hannah left, Harry let Kreacher have the kitchen and, taking a cup of coffee with him, moved to the salon. He sat in a chair, by the window, that looked out onto the street and the park across the way. From his chair, he could see both the salon and the dining room. Harry thought through the arrangements for an engagement party, following the outline Daphne had given him just the week before.
Number of people. Quantity of food and beverages. Serving staff. Space.
The logistics wouldn't be that daunting, Harry decided. Money wasn't an issue, so they could hire all the additional staff required. Kreacher's connection with Hogwarts kitchen elves, and Daphne's with Faye and her colleagues meant that they would have chefs competing to come and assist.
The problem would be space. They'd have to put their heads together and solve that, if they wanted to entertain one hundred people at #12.
Ginny and Millicent appeared at the door. They walked into the salon, barefoot, holding hands, each wearing mismatched track suit components that Harry recognized.
"Are those clean?" Harry asked. "You're welcome to them, but…"
Millicent leaned over and put her nose near Ginny's shoulder, making a show of inhaling.
"Clean enough, yet not TOO clean," she said. "Just a hint of man-sweat to balance off the Amazon."
Ginny blushed, hissed, "Millicent!" and turned her head.
"So, what's next?" Harry asked. "Harpies playing?"
"No, or I wouldn't have been dancing the night away," Ginny said. She looked at Millicent. The two dropped their hands and pushed another chair over near Harry's, and both sat down.
"Daphne talked through a couple of things with us, Harry," Ginny said.
"She listened, and let us talk through some things," Millicent added.
"That's better, Millicent, thanks," Ginny said, smiling.
"The point is, we understand, now" said Millicent. "We understand things neither of us understood before."
"She's amazing," Ginny said. "That witch, Harry…"
"And we want to thank you, for whatever it was you did, Harry. Our lives…we both are very successful, but…this…eluded us both," Millicent said, raising their clasped hands in illustration, "until you and Daphne came along."
Millicent's eyes got shiny then, and Ginny lay her arm on Millicent's shoulder, pulling her close.
"I'm not sure I did anything beyond wishing for happiness for two lovely witches," Harry said. "Egghead professor and glam quidditch star, so logical, it had to happen, don't you think? Now, you two will get to discover your own private magic. That should be lots of fun."
Ginny looked at Millicent, and the two stood up.
"We're off to the Burrow," Ginny said. "Molly's big Sunday dinner. I hope Charlie's there. We need you to bring Daphne out, soon, Harry, she is so overdue for initiation into the mysteries of Weasley."
They moved as one, leaning down, draping arms over Harry's shoulders.
"Thanks, Harry," they said together, planting kisses on both cheeks. They crossed to the foyer, where Kreacher met them, gave them their capes, and opened the door.
"Thanks, Kreacher," Ginny said. "Miss Daphne said we can leave the gowns upstairs for now. Millicent and I will figure the rest out."
"Miss Ginny's and Miss Millicent's gowns are welcome to stay as long as you like, Miss Ginny," Kreacher said. "Good bye for now."