Chapter 11: Meeting at the Ministry and Party Preparations
My heart jumped into my throat the moment I heard Harry tell me we were heading to Grimmauld Place. As I had nothing to pack I was ready to leave instantly, but my mother's voice echoed in my head reminding me that I had to be a gracious guest. I walked over to Draco and extended my hand.
"Draco, I can't begin to thank you and Astoria for the kindness you've shown me."
Draco shook my hand. "You are quite welcome. You've been extremely helpful in our research. Potter will fill you in later, as I have an appointment to keep. I will meet you at Hogwarts on the second for your meeting with Headmaster Flurbin. I believe it will be very illuminating."
I looked towards Harry, who was smiling. "Harry, before we go I need to say goodbye to Astoria. Will you excuse me for a moment?"
I made my way back to the large room where I had initially met Astoria and found her reading on the sofa in front of the fire. She held a book in one hand and fingered a locket which hung around her neck on a thin gold chain. I walked towards her and sat on the brocade chair once again.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Astoria, but I'm leaving now. I can't thank you enough for the hospitality that you and Draco have shown me. I know that it's not the proper way to do it, but it would make me very happy if you and Draco could attend my wedding. It's the least that I can do."
She smiled at me and closed her book. "I am happy that we could help you. I am sorry that you had to meet Lucius; Draco told me about your visit. Draco and I would be delighted to attend your wedding, just let me know the details. Oh, it's not in June, is it?"
"No, August. Did Draco tell you about his agreement with his father?"
I expected a sour look from Astoria, but her face continued to radiate happiness. "Yes, and that's quite all right. I've been looking through the family names and it was already on my list. We'll let Lucius continue to think that he's won, though."
I kissed her on the cheek and made my way back to the library, back to Harry, back towards Grimmauld Place and back to Melody. When I entered the library both Harry and Draco stood up. Harry looked towards Draco and held out his hand.
"We'll be in touch, Malfoy."
Draco shook his hand. "I'll let you know if I find out anything."
I walked out of Malfoy Manor next to Harry immediately began peppering him with questions about Melody, Lavinia, the Phillips family and the status of the WLF, causing him to laugh.
"One thing at a time, Hank, one thing at a time. First off, Melody's fine. She's been a bit mopey, but taking care of Lavinia has kept her mind off most things. Lavinia has her good days and her bad days. We've been in touch with Kristine Tinney, more on that later. The Phillips family is fine; George has been over there a couple of times, he'll fill you in. As for the other things, well, I don't want to talk about that now. Let's head back home."
After reaching the end of the long lane Harry opened the gate to Malfoy Manor by saying a word I couldn't understand and waving his wand. A few steps later he took my arm and we apparated, one of the only times I was happy to have that nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach.
The moment we walked into Grimmauld Place I smelled smoke, and Harry took out his wand and ran through the entry hall into the house. I covered my nose and mouth with my arm and followed, my heart beating a million miles an hour. How did they get into Grimmauld Place? Was Melody safe?
When I arrived in the kitchen Harry was siphoning all the smoke with his wand, revealing a large frying pan that contained very crispy pieces of small, black things that used to be bacon. He shook his head and at the top of his lungs yelled "Ginny!"
I could hear footsteps on the stairs and shortly Ginny came down wearing an old t-shirt and flannel pants with little snitches on them. "Stop yelling, Harry, I just got James down and…is that smoke?" She walked towards the stove and removed the frying pan. "I told Melody to let Kreacher do it, but no, she wouldn't listen. Have to learn to cook like a Muggle for Hank."
I laughed. "I guess that one lesson from my Mom didn't do a whole lot."
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, since you've been gone she's mucked up breakfast more than once. I mean, the eggs were ok, but…HANK!"
"Just realized I was standing here?" I looked at Harry, and he just smiled.
"Pregnant brain. The other day I put two nappies on James." Ginny gave me a hug. "We're so glad you're ok. Where were you? Mr. Auror over there wouldn't tell me."
"And neither should you, Hank." Harry's tone was firm. "Not right now, anyway. Why don't you go tell Melody her bacon is ruined? She's in the same room as last time."
The door to the bedroom was closed when I arrived, so I knocked on the door. Receiving no response I knocked again, louder. I heard footsteps and then Melody's voice behind the door.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Ginny, I'm almost done. I can't get dressed?"
I took that as my cue and opened the door. "You don't have to get dressed on my account."
Repeating her reaction from The Burrow a few days ago Melody ran over and jumped into my arms. Several kisses later I sat her back down on the floor, and took a look at her; she was wearing my Weasley sweater and not much else, and I have to admit I liked it.
"Uh, Mel, you burnt the bacon."
"Its fine, I just put it on a few minutes ago. Hang the bacon, did you just get back?"
"Just long enough to say hello to Ginny and find my way up here. The smoke from the bacon freaked Harry out for a bit and me too. We thought something bad had happened, but it was just your cooking. You have to watch bacon closely, love. They were all black and extremely crispy."
She laughed and then walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of jeans. While sitting on the bed she looked at me. "Speaking of black, you're certainly wearing a lot of it. I don't think that's really your style. You look like…"
She finished putting on her jeans and then walked over to me, took a hold of the jacket and opened it up. Not finding what she wanted on one side she opened the other.
"Ah-ha. Just as I thought. Care to tell me why you're wearing Draco Malfoy's jacket?"
Crap! What was Harry going to say? "Um, I think we'd better talk to Harry about that. Where's Lavinia?"
"Nice change of topic, Hank. She's in James' room. We gave her a bedroom of her own but she sleeps on the daybed in there. Ginny loves it as James has his own self-appointed nanny. She's been doing better, especially after Harry had a long talk with her one night. Lately she's been helping Ginny plan the New Year's Eve party."
"They're still having that?" I sat down in a chair and took off my glasses. "And it's ok that we're at the party?"
Melody pulled her hair back and tied it quickly, then put on her glasses. "Harry said his party is the safest place for us outside of Azkaban. Way too many Aurors and other bigwigs, so security will be very high. They'd never try anything. Now let's go downstairs, I'm hungry, you need to cook me some bacon and Harry has to tell me why you look like you're teaching DADA."
Over properly cooked breakfast Harry relented on telling the women where I'd been after Melody told him her guess and her proof. I explained my research with Draco, told them about Lucius and his deal about the baby name and also informed Melody that I had added two more people to the guest list, something she was surprisingly ok with. Ginny, on the other hand, was still hesitant about the Malfoys attending the wedding, as she knew that some people would never trust Draco. Melody and the Potters took turns filling me in about Lavinia, the Ministry had finally made contact with her Aunt, and that Kristine Tinney was due in London later that day.
"That's one of the other reasons I went to Malfoy Manor today, Hank. You and Melody will be meeting with the Ministry officials this afternoon, and I'll be your escort.
I sat down my teacup. "Does Lavinia know this?"
Harry nodded. "She's nervous, but she knows that whatever the outcome it'll be for the best. She's still somewhat in shock, and things remind her every now and then that her parents are gone, so be prepared."
I nodded, as if I understood, even though I wasn't sure how I was going to handle things. Melody smiled sympathetically at me and I wondered what I would say when Lavinia appeared.
I didn't have to wait too long, as Lavinia came downstairs with James on her hip. After handing James to Ginny and giving her the rundown of the current nappy situation, Lavinia suddenly realized that I was at the table. She was hesitant at first until I held out my arms to her, and she gave me a very long hug.
"You look funny, Professor Muggle." Lavinia had an odd expression on her face.
"I'll explain later. And we're not at Hogwarts, Lavinia. You don't have to call me Professor, Hank is fine."
"Um, ok." Lavinia sat down at the table and looked over to me. "It seems weird to not call you Professor Muggle."
"Whatever's fine, Lavinia. Don't worry about it." I took a sip of tea. "Are you ready for today?"
After taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I haven't seen Aunt Tinney for a few years. She's more like a big sister. When are we going?"
Harry straightened his glasses and looked over to me, then Lavinia. "In a couple of hours. Don't worry, Lavinia. I'm sure things will be fine."
By the expression on Lavinia's face I was sure that she didn't believe Harry.
After signing in and receiving our visitors badges Hermione met us when we arrived at the Ministry of Magic; Harry had informed us before we left Grimmauld Place that the meeting would be in her office at his suggestion. I didn't mind, as Hermione's office was one of the coziest places I've ever been in, outside of The Burrow. Lavinia was quiet after breakfast, and I couldn't get more than monosyllabic answers out of her when I asked her questions. The only thing that had caused any light to flicker in her eyes was when she had talked to Ginny about James, specifically his nap schedule. As we walked through the Ministry towards the elevator I thought that she might be in awe of the place, as I was on my first visit, but there was no response.
When we reached the elevator she surprised everyone by saying, to no one in particular, and in a very defeated voice "I don't want to live in Australia."
Melody put her hand on Lavinia's shoulder. "I know, honey. Let's wait and see what happens first."
I expected Kristine Tinney to be in Hermione's office, but when we entered nobody was waiting for us. After we sat down in the extra conjured chairs around a small table Hermione made tea and told us that Percy would be escorting Lavinia's aunt to her office. We expected her at any time, which only lent to the air of anxiety in the room. As I sat and watched Melody drink tea I thought about Lavinia's situation. I didn't want to see her move to Australia, and I know Melody didn't either, but her aunt was the only family she had left. Who were we to take her away from her family? One of her professors and his fiancée, hardly a common situation, and a situation that would have no bearing in the Muggle world, and probably the Wizarding world as well.
Before I could stew on it any longer the door opened, and Percy walked in followed by a very young blonde woman. I guessed her to be in her early twenties, so I figured that Percy and his assistant had arrived to tell us that there was some sort of trouble with the portkey or something. After looking again I realized the young woman was wearing clothes that reminded me of Charlie Weasley's dragon-keeper gear, as it was made out of some sort of hide, but instead of a long coat she was wearing trousers and big boots. As soon as the young woman saw Lavinia she hurried over to her and gave her a long hug.
"Oh Vinny, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
We watched the two blondes embrace and cry together, and I looked down at the floor for a while until I felt Melody's hand take mine. I looked up to Mel, and her lips were tight as she nodded slightly in my direction.
After Lavinia and Kristine Tinney broke apart Percy conjured a chair next to Lavinia and the meeting began.
Percy cleared his throat. "I'm sorry that this meeting has to take place, and since this is not a court ordered meeting there really are no formal proceedings that need to be observed. We do, however, need to come to an agreement regarding the custody of Lavinia Leda Ryder, as there are some circumstances that are somewhat different than usual."
Percy made the introductions, and when I shook hands with Kristine she smiled. "Just call me Tinney, everybody on the research team does."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Hank and this is my fiancée Melody."
When Melody shook hands with her I could tell that Tinney had the same tanned, healthy look about her that Petal Farnsworth has, the look of someone who spends a great deal of time outdoors. I could also see the family resemblance to Lavinia, though Tinney's hair was somewhat sun bleached. Hermione handed Tinney a cup of tea, and we all sat down. I could tell Melody was anxious as she was twirling her hair in her hand. Percy cleared his throat again, but before he could begin Tinney sat down her tea.
"Mr. Weasley and I talked a bit before I got here, and I want to thank you for everything you've done for Vinny. I also apologize for it taking so long to get a hold of me, it's hard to get messages on the refuge sometimes, and well, I was way out in the boonies."
Huh? Refuge? "I'm sorry, what do you mean refuge? Like a wildlife refuge?"
She nodded. "You could say that. I was out working with the bunyips, trying to do some research, and I'd been out by a nest waiting for the momma to come home. Hard to catch them in their nests."
"You'll have to excuse me, I'm pretty much a complete Muggle, but what's a bunyip?" I looked over Hermione, who shrugged.
"Well, we think they're a lot like dragons, that's what I'm researching. Trying to see if they developed from a common ancestor, all that. But that's not what's important right now, is it?" She looked over to Lavinia, who had returned to her anxious mood.
"Vinny, you know when I'm out there with the beasties I can't take you with me. You want to stay at Hogwarts, don't you?"
Lavinia nodded slowly.
Tinny gave Lavinia a sly smile. "Don't blame you. Cracking place, it is. Well, Mr. Weasley…"
"Percy's fine." We looked over to Percy, and I thought I could see the faintest hint of a smile on his face.
"Right. When Percy and I had our talk before we came to this meeting, and, well, I think we have a solution. Since I'm your aunt, I'll be your legal guardian. But I can't stop my research or I'll lose my funding, and I don't think you want to move to Australia. If Mr. and Mrs. Boyd…"
Lavinia laughed. "They're not married yet, Aunt Tinney."
"Oh! That's right. Sorry. Well, if they agree to it, they'll be your guardians while you're in school. I'll arrange things with my boss so I won't have to do field work during the summer, so you can spend summers with me in Australia. You don't have to leave Hogwarts, Vinny." Tinney looked over to Melody and me. "What do you think?"
"Yes, that sounds perfect." Melody looked over to me. "Don't you think, Hank?"
"I nodded. I think that sounds good. Lavinia?"
"What about holidays?"
Tinney smiled. "Portkeys are too hard to manage, not to mention expensive, for the short ones. It'll be easier if I come over here instead of you coming all the way to Australia. Might not be able to make all of them, but I'll try as often as possible."
Percy pulled out two sets of parchment and sat them down on the table. "I hoped this would happen, so I took the opportunity to draw up the documentation. Tinney, if you would sign on the blue lines, Melody the green lines and Hank please sign the purple lines. And yes, Hank, your Muggle pen will work fine, you don't have to use a quill."
After all the parchments were signed Percy took out his wand and the parchments turned themselves into giant paper airplanes and flew out of the room. Hermione stood up and looked to Harry and he nodded.
"I think we should let Lavinia and Tinney have some time. Tinney, when you have are available please let me know, as there are some arrangements that need to be finalized regarding other matters."
As we walked out of Hermione's office Ron walked over and conjured a chair by the wall. "I'll take them to your office when they're done, Perce."
Hermione stayed to talk to her husband, so the rest of us followed to Percy's neat-as-a-pin office. I clapped Percy on the shoulder before we sat down.
"You think of everything, don't you, Percy?"
He smiled, but it wasn't a warm one. "Unfortunately, yes I do. I also had other parchments drawn up for sole custody and Lavinia's transfer to a new school, but I'm glad those won't be needed."
I looked over to Harry. "Ok, Mr. Auror, what's the background on Kristine Tinney?"
Harry chuckled. "Figured that we would have checked her out, did you, Hank? She's a good person; younger than what you probably expected, but a good person." Harry looked over at Melody, and got a taste of what I get at home, as Melody's face was in the nice try, now do it correctly expression. "Ok, ok. She's a lot younger than Lavinia's mother, only twenty-one. Attended Hogwarts for a year and then went to school in Australia when her parents relocated. Mr. and Mrs. Tinney, Lavinia's grandparents, passed away right after Kristine turned 17. Automobile accident with drunken Muggles, it was a horrible scene from what the Australian Auror said."
"That poor family." Melody took off her glasses and put them in her purse, and pulled out a tissue. I watched her dab her eyes.
"Very sad story. Kristine stayed in Australia, as she's kind of like a dragon keeper crossed with Luna, always looking for stuff that is supposed to exist but has never been proven. Right now she's at the leading edge of trying to prove that dragons and bunyips, some Australian lizard or something, are descended from the same family tree. Besides that, though, it's happily boring. Never been in trouble with the Australian Ministry, no alcohol or drug abuse, relatively well-off, has a small place in the magical section of Perth, but most of the time she's in the outback at the bunyip refuge."
"Boyfriends? Nasty ex-boyfriends? Enemies?" Melody looked at Harry, and then to me. "Need to know these things."
Harry laughed. "You could have been an Auror, you know. No enemies we know of except for those in the Magical Creatures community, and they fight by politely disagreeing with long parchments that have endless footnotes and diagrams. Two ex-boyfriends, one from school and the other from the refuge, she's actually friends with both of them, and nothing in our research turned up anything out of the ordinary. Her colleagues think highly of her, though they say she can be quite excitable and really likes to talk."
That made me chuckle. "Must be genetic, then."
"I'll take it on your authority, Hank. She's been very quiet at home."
I watched Harry's mood darken, and he leaned back in the chair. At that moment he seemed very tired. After a while he leaned forward and looked at Melody and me.
"One of the things we'll need to discuss with Kristine are the funeral arrangements. Unfortunately, Hank, the funeral will be after you go back to Hogwarts. We'll work it out somehow."
Son of a bitch. I was meeting with Flurbin on the second, and there was no way he would allow me to attend the funeral. Well, if I still had a job, anyway. If he fired me it wouldn't be a problem. "That's fine, Harry. Just let me know."
Percy cleared his throat and stood up from behind his desk. "I hate to break this up, but my schedule is very tight today, so I must be going."
After thanking Percy we made our way back to Hermione's office and found Ron reading a book outside. I thought he was engrossed in his book and tried to sneak up on him, but I should have known better; after all, the man is an Auror. He shook his head at me and closed the book, putting it away quickly before I could read the cover.
"What's the matter, Ron? Won't let me see what you're reading? Afraid I'll tell Hermione?" I pushed my glasses on the top of my head. "It can't be that bad."
Ron looked around, then straight at me. "Its one of those Muggle pregnancy baby book things. I'll give you a copy for yourself right after the honeymoon, that sound good?"
As I stood flabbergasted for a few moments, Ron kept looking at me seriously, and then broke into a giant smile. "Just messing with you, mate."
Melody rolled her eyes at the both of us. "Boys."
We walked into the room and found Tinney and Lavinia talking quietly in their chairs, close together. When they saw us enter they both smiled at us, and I could see the resemblance between Lavinia and her aunt.
"I take it Mrs. Weasley wants her office back? No problem, but where are we heading?" Tinney looked to me, but Harry answered.
"Home. You'll be staying with us until it's time for your return trip." He looked over to me. "Nothing like a full house, eh Hank?"
"Sure, Harry. Just don't let someone who shall remain nameless cook the bacon." I felt Melody hit my arm, and Lavinia giggled. It was good to see her laugh.
When we arrived back at Grimmauld Place the house was an absolute swarm of activity, as people were walking all over the place, moving furniture, putting up streamers with their wands, organizing the bar. I'd forgotten that tomorrow would be New Year's Eve, and that the party would be another big event. Ginny carried a clipboard and had one of my ink pens stuck in her hair when she met us at the fireplace.
"I'm glad you're here, I can use some extra help."
Harry looked around his house and watched as a wizard levitated a table into place. "Looks like you've got plenty. Uh, Ginny, who are these people?"
"Staff from Rainbolt's Magical Event Planning. Since James is small and you decided we needed more children, I can't do as much. I've hired them."
"Uh, Ginny, I think, um, yes, I, uh, you were a part of that decision…" Harry Potter, the most famous wizard in the world, and one of the bravest, was turning several shades of crimson.
"Hiring the party people was my idea." Lavinia looked over to Ginny, who walked over and put her arm on Lavinia's shoulder.
"Bloody good idea, too." Ginny looked at Harry. "Now you need to take James to The Burrow. Mum's expecting you, so off you go."
"But I'm working." Harry looked over at me and I just held up my hands. I remembered his comment about the Wrath of Weasley and wanted no part of it.
"I owled Robards and he agreed with me that with our added security needs it's quite appropriate. Now hurry up, if you time it right James will still be napping. Oh!"
It was at that point that Ginny realized that Tinney was in her house, and she walked forward and introduced herself. I watched Harry shake his head and a few moments later he came downstairs unsuccessfully, as James was quite awake and obviously not very happy. As James screamed his head off Lavinia walked forward and opened her arms, and Harry gratefully gave her his red-faced son. Lavinia walked with James for a while, and after talking to him for several minutes he finally calmed down. She walked back towards the adults, who were all astonished except for Ginny.
"See, Harry? I told you." Ginny had a triumphant smile on her face, and then looked over to Lavinia and winked.
I looked over to Harry. "I'm afraid to ask."
Harry ran his hand through his hair. "Ginny's been saying we could use a nanny, and suggested…well, let's just say I thought…bloody hell. Lavinia, what did you do to make him quiet down?'
Lavinia smiled as James began to sleep in her arms. "I told him some of the History of Magic lectures that I remember."
All of the former Hogwarts students began to laugh. Melody shook her head. "I always knew Binns put people to sleep, but that's ridiculous."
After much discussion and a couple of owls it was decided that Lavinia would stay with James at The Burrow, as Molly and Arthur were not attending the party. The official line was that Arthur wasn't feeling up to it, but the Weasley children knew that Molly didn't want to attend in fear of receiving a shock akin to the prior year, when George showed up married. Percy and Audrey would also be at The Burrow, and after extending an invitation to Andromeda and Teddy, as well as several British and American Aurors, The Burrow was deemed sufficiently safe for Lavinia.
After the youngest was safely out of the chaos of Grimmauld Place, Ginny walked into the kitchen where everyone was having a cup of tea, took one of my Muggle pens out of her hair and marked something off on her clipboard.
"Uh, Ginny, you're using my pens?"
"It was the first thing I found this morning as all of the quills have suddenly gone missing. Well, I can't remember where they are and we're on a schedule. Not bad, but it feels very odd. Speaking of schedules, I believe we have some things to do." Ginny handed Harry the clipboard. "Here."
"What am I supposed to do with this?" Harry looked at me, hoping for some support, but I shrugged.
"You are in charge while I'm out. I have to find something else to wear as nothing fits, Melody needs something new and Tinney obviously wasn't planning on attending a party, so she needs something as well. We're picking up Hermione along the way, shouldn't be gone for more than four hours or so."
"That's a long time for a few somethings." Harry looked at me, and I began to laugh.
"I'm not going with them. Do you think I'm going to Madame Malkin's? Bad idea." I looked over to Melody. "Pick out something nice, and could you get me something as well? Unless you think this is ok. Or you want to get my kilt."
"Oh no, no kilt. And I'm not spending New Year's with you looking like that. I'll take care of you." She gave me a smile that, frankly, made me worried.
After quieting Tinney's protestations that she didn't need to attend the party, that she didn't have enough money to go shopping and that she really wasn't a 'girly dress-up' kind of woman the ladies exited the house, leaving Harry and I alone in the kitchen. Out in the other rooms we could hear the decorations and reorganization of the house, and I looked at my watch.
"Ginny said four hours, right? Think that's enough time to have a late lunch at The Leaky?"
"Definitely." Harry stood up from his chair with a mischievous look. "And to plan a few surprises of our own."
Three hours later, after a long and extended lunch at The Leaky which involved several people who "just happened" to be at the pub stopping by to talk, Harry and I returned to Grimmauld Place. Harry was happy with his "surprises" but the one person who was definitely not happy was waiting for us in the study. A red-haired pregnant person. More specifically, a red-haired pregnant person with the last name of Potter.
"Where were you? I told you that you were in charge and we come back and the clipboard is on the kitchen table, nothing's been checked off and the head of the event planners had questions that needed answered. If we hadn't finished so early…I can't even look at you right now. Hank, take this idiot I married and go do something, anything, but stay out of my way."
As Ginny blatantly rolled her wand around in her hand I watched her face become increasingly red. This was obviously the Wrath of Weasley that Harry had mentioned the night before my brother's wedding, and I was glad that I wasn't on the receiving end. I grabbed Harry's arm and we went upstairs to his study, and after we'd closed the door and sat down I looked over to him, expecting guilt or remorse, but instead he began laughing.
"Are you crazy, Harry? Winding up you pregnant wife, who just happens to be a witch?"
"You remember we stopped by the jewelry shop and the florist, right? There's a method to my madness, just wait."
"You're insane. Flowers and jewelry are only going to get you so far." I looked at him, sitting at his desk, and he looked very confident. "You're crazy. I'm going to go see what Melody brought for tonight. That should be interesting."
I walked into the room fairly lighthearted and before seeing Melody said "We should probably pay rent, we're here so much."
I didn't get a response, and I didn't see Melody right away. I did see the closet door was slightly open, and after opening the door all the way I found her sitting in the closet, crying. I knelt down immediately and put my hand on her head, smoothing away her hair from her face.
"Mel, honey, what's wrong?"
She looked up at me and, after wiping away the tears, finally managed to speak. "Everything. Everything's wrong, Hank. Lavinia's parents, Christmas, and…"
"And what, honey?"
"And my dress size went up two whole sizes. Two! I mean, I know I've been gaining some weight, but…"
Oh no. I knew that if I commented on Lavinia's parents, and how Christmas had gone completely awry, that I would spend a long time with her in tears, and would probably end up with some of my own. I had to change the direction of the conversation. "I don't care, Mel. I like it that you're not a stick. I'm marrying you, not your dress size." I sat down on the floor next to her. "Hey, I'm going bald. Nobody's perfect. I don't want perfect, I want you."
"But when we were in Madam Malkin's, and Tinney tried on this little green dress…" She wiped away some more tears and looked at me. "I used to be able to wear that, and now I can't."
"I don't want Tinney, I want you. Now come on, get off of the floor and show me what you got. Or at least show me what I'm wearing tonight."
I stood up and helped Melody off of the floor, and I sat on the bed as she pulled down the garment bag from the back of the door. After unzipping the bag she handed me a hanger. The suit was dark charcoal grey, wool, and the tailoring was immaculate. A new white shirt with a collar and sleeve length that magically adjusted to the perfect size also hung on a hanger, and a yellow and black striped bow tie completed the look. There was also a bag filled with other things that I assumed to be socks, so I left that alone.
"Hufflepuff colors for the tie, very nice. Uh, Mel? What about shoes?"
"I like the boots."
"Remind me to pay Draco for them. What about a robe?"
She walked over to the closet and pulled out something that looked very familiar. "George had it sent over right after you went into hiding. He said you could thank him later."
It was my robe that George provided when he gave me all of the other Invisibles gear, the spell-deflecting robe with the quill and parchment design. I felt better; in case something did happen at least I had the spell-deflecting robe. I looked over to Mel, who seemed to be a little more pulled together.
"What about you?"
"That's a surprise. Now you can either take a nap with me or go help Harry."
I shook my head. "Nap. Even though Harry's one of my best friends, there's no way I want to get involved in that. I don't want to get hit by Wrath of Weasley, even if it's just overflow."
After taking off boots and jackets and everything else non-nap conducive we laid down on the bed and Mel snuggled in next to me. It wasn't long before she was napping, but I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about Lavinia, Tinney and the upcoming funeral. I also kept returning to my upcoming meeting with Flurbin; even though Draco had promised to attend, all I could think about were all of the bad things that would happen. What would I do? What would happen to my students? And after thinking about students, how would going back to Hogwarts and the new custody situation affect Lavinia?
It was useless, I couldn't fall asleep. I eased off of the bed and pulled a Molly Weasley afghan over Mel's sleeping form. She was crazy; gaining too much weight…she was perfect. I picked up my borrowed boots, opened and closed the door as quietly as possible and made my way downstairs. After sitting at the kitchen table and putting on the boots I decided to get some fresh air and walked out to the garden, instantly regretting the decision, as the weather was horrible. The cold calm of the day had given way to a blustery, biting late afternoon, and the clouds threatened either sleet or snow. A small white tent, like the ones I knew from wedding receptions, was staked in the garden. I thought that at least I'd be able to get out of the wind in there, so I went over, opened the flap and walked in.
Whatever I was expecting it certainly wasn't what was inside the tent. Instead of a small space suitable for maybe ten people it was a giant…event center, for lack of a better description. Gleaming wood parquet floors stretched the length of the place, and I stood in amazement in front of the massive double staircase. The upper floor was open in the center, giving a view of the dance floor. Holiday decorations were speeding into place at the direction of several party planning wizards, and a witch was organizing the bar by levitating bottles out of their containers to shelves. One wizard put his wand away and reached into his pocket and brought out…but it couldn't be.
As the wizard walked towards the door I followed him, and as he went around the corner, sheltering himself from the wind I smelled something familiar. Melody would probably kill me, but under the strain and circumstances I rationalized it away. I walked up to him and he nodded.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but could I bum one?"
He looked at me and smiled. "Either you were raised by Muggles or spent a lot of time with them. Sure." He handed me the pack of cigarettes. "Need a light?"
"Yeah, thanks." I put the cigarette to my lips and he brought his wand up and lit the smoke.
"Name's Paul." He held out his hand and I shook it.
"Hank. Thanks, you have no idea how long it's been. I definitely needed it. You're right, raised by Muggles. I'm barely a wizard, actually. What about you?"
"Mum's a witch, Dad's a Muggle. Got caught sneaking my Grandpa's smokes when I was a kid, teenage rebellion kind of thing. I should really quit, but…well, you know the drill."
I nodded my head. "Oh yeah. My fiancée hates it when I smoke, even when it's just an occasional cigar or the pipe."
"Fiancee? Congrats. That's an American accent, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Haven't been here in Britain very long."
"Wait, I think I know you. You're the Muggle teaching at Hogwarts, right?" He laughed. "Never thought I'd see that happen. Good for you."
"Thanks. What about you?"
"Ah, I'm just doing this for some extra Galleons. Regular job's at Eeylops' in Diagon Alley. Can only make so much training owls, you know." He took a long drag off the cigarette and blew the smoke into the wind. "So what's got you all nervous enough you'd risk an angry fiancée?"
I took a look at him, and he seemed like a normal guy, one of the folks I'd come to know in the little social circles of cigarette smokers over the years. "Way too much to go into, but the long and short of it is I've got political shit going crazy at work, anti-Muggle idiots after me, some, uh, family stuff, we're planning the wedding and my fiancée's upset because she's been gaining weight. Happy New Year's, right?"
He shook his head. "Sounds like a load to me. Look at it this way, in a few hours it's a brand new year. Anything's possible, mate." He took out his wand, then threw the cigarette butt into the air and vanished it with his wand. After holding out his hand he grunted. "Snow's coming. Here."
He handed me his pack of cigarettes and a couple of candies.
"You don't have to do that."
He shrugged. "Need to quit anyway, no time like the New Year. Start off on the right foot and all that. Candies will take away the smoke smell, but only works for one or two. Smoke the rest of those and you'll be busted."
"Happy New Year." I held out my hand, and Paul shook it.
"You too. Like I said, anything's possible. It's a new year."
