HP New Marauders
Chapter 11
Cause and effect
--
"You are a Healer, Ginevra, one that specializes in obstetrics and pediatrics. This is inexcusable! You're sixteen weeks along with twins no less and only now are you seeking to verify it!" Lucy showed them both 4D images of their daughters, as she continued to glower at Ginny.
"I've been taking care of myself. Eating right, taking my vitamins, drinking loads of milk just like I did with DJ." Ginny whimpered shakily. She hated the way that Luce was looking at her, but then deep down she knew that she was right.
"Both of your girls are doing fabulously, no thanks to their mother blocking their existence out of her mind, so she could play the World Cup. By the goddess Ginny! What in Mab's name has come over you? No Match or glory is worth such a risk and you darn well know this!" Luce had the computer zoom in on the first twin. "She's in prefect health at five and a half inches long and weights in at four ounces. She's got a strong healthy heart beat and as you can see she has fingernails and toenails well on the way to being formed and she's frowning. Note how far along in the game she already is. Then think about the risk you were willing to take with her or her equally identically healthy twin sister, who's sucking her thumb and blinking at you this very moment…"
"Luce, she's well aware that she beyond messed up and we have a pretty good idea about the reason why. I've already flamed her myself this morning, so believe me she gets it now." Draco broke into Luce's snarls towards Ginny.
"I made a mistake eleven years or so ago and I'm beyond paying for it now!" Ginny burst into tears. "I just didn't want to be a meek little anything again…I didn't think it would ever come back to haunt me like this…" She sobbed.
"What in the name of magic is she going on about?" Lucy scowled at Draco.
Draco used the Imperturbable Charm on the entire room before answering her question. "Evidently, she kept a piece of Riddle inside her subconscious. It was that influence that has empowered her to strive and achieve everything she wanted."
"You're nearly twenty-one and should have weaned yourself off needing IT years ago. Let alone listening and abiding to ITS suggestion instead of using plain old common sense." Luce was beyond displeased and not the least bit sympathetic towards Ginny. "So, you were shy at eleven most girls are. I know that I was at that age, but I grew out of it in a year or so. All your fun at getting what you wanted never truly made you happy that was until you met your match in Draco, who fell for the true you and not your whatever-Ginny-wants-Ginny-gets attitude. So, be done with IT and by doing so you'll find that you're better for it in the end."
"To tell you the truth all your attitude did was irritate me, but it was when you let your guard down that I really fell for you. I was entranced by your inner beauty the side that fiercely loved and protected what was hers. You never needed to use any of that with me." Draco kissed away her tears. "In fact you stopped relying on that side of you after we got together and only listen to IT when you feel vulnerable or unsure of yourself about something."
"Or when she knows that you're not going to approve of or have already shot down something that she wanted." Luce pointed to the screen. "Looks like they're both getting sleepy, so we'll let them." Luce saved the images to be burned on a DVD and then shut off the machine.
"The responsible side of me has known for a while about our girls and I've been meticulously doing all the things that I need for the girls since April. I've just been good at covering my tracks using the darker more sneaker side of my persona." Gin wiped the goop off her middle. "Stating that I'm drinking more milk and cutting off on caffeine, because I want to be a good influence on DJ and things like that. I'd also like to point out that I've been beyond careful during matches or practices when I'm up on my broom."
"Ginny you've been drinking Butterbeer…"
"No you think I'm drinking Butterbeer, but in reality I'm drinking milk, juice, or something healthy like my prenatal potion." Gin countered him and giggled when Draco and Luce stared gobsmacked at her. "I told you that I was sneaky. I'm eating yogurt, my good for me cereal, and I drink a gallon of water a day. I just do it when you're not really paying attention or are so caught up with something that you don't even notice. "
"That's evident in how wonderfully the girls are coming along. It's a relief to know that your stronger side is your good side and that it far out weights any influence that IT might have on you." Luce handed Draco the slim case that contained the first video of the girls. "Now just to be clear about things, no Quidditch, horseback riding, Griff riding, or riding any animal from here on out…."
"Yes, Yes, Yes, I know the rules Luce." Ginny rolled her eyes at her in exasperation and went to use the bathroom.
"I thought you did, but your actions of late say otherwise." Luce narrowed her eyes at Gin. "I want IT out of your head, before your next appointment and that is not up for negotiation."
"We're working on that Luce. We don't want IT in there anymore than you do and the sooner that IT's gone the better I'll feel." Draco was in complete agreement.
"Hey, I'm not thrilled having IT in my head either or that my subconscious decided that IT was needed all this time." Ginny growled.
"Gin just remember that IT did nothing to define who you are today and that you'll still be you when IT's gone. That's very important that you believe that you're you and nothing and no one can change that." Luce walked over and gave her a hug. "If anything you'll just be less a darker side that you don't need in the first place."
"I'm scared Luce. I don't know how much of all my achievements were truly mine and what was done using IT to achieve it. I don't want to go all shy again…" Ginny sniffled.
"You won't because you shed that shy part of you years ago." Luce hugged her fiercely. "If anything losing IT will only make you stronger and having IT as a crutch is only a weakness."
"I hadn't thought about it that way thanks Luce…" Ginny smiled weakly.
"Positive thinking is crucial in banishing IT from your mind. I've never come across a situation like this, but I'm positive that you'll have to focus on the positive and not the negative to get IT out of you mind. I know focus on the girls. Think of IT as a threat to what's yours." Luce suggested.
"That's brilliant Luce." Draco grinned. "No one threatens what's hers so IT is toast."
"Damn right IT is toast." Ginny growled. "No one comes between me and what's mine."
"That's the spirit now I want to see you in two weeks." Luce smiled at the two of them.
"Two weeks it is then." Ginny nodded. "We've got a date with Franc, because Draco gave away most of his clothes this morning."
"Oh?"
"I gave them to the thrift shop."
"Oliver was weeding things out of his closet when I left home this morning, and it is a worthy cause." Luce smiled. "I'll see you at the World Cup."
"That you will…Later Luce." The two of them vanished.
--
Albus listened calmly to Hermione and Lily, as they went over their findings with him. "First let me reassure the two of you that Tom Riddle has been dead for six years. If in fact there is a shadow of him lurking deep within Ginny's subconscious then it's a shadow and nothing that can't be easily corrected." Albus, steepled his fingers in front of him, it was as though they were discussing the summer weather and nothing more than that.
"That shadow is effecting her judgment and its influence caused utter mayhem here this past Monday." Hermione couldn't believe his casual attitude, especially about something as serious as this.
"I am aware of that Hermione, but all of you need to understand that it's not Voldemort that is influencing Ginny, but a sliver of his teenage side and nothing more. He's like a dark muse, powerless to do nothing more than suggest or perhaps give a mental push, but that's where his influence ends." Albus kept his tone calm and soothing.
"Uncle Albus, you had to have at least suspected that Ginny might have hidden a part of him away." Lily held up the book that she was reading. "This is in your hand. In fact most of these were written by you."
"During my prime I was often prone to write. Yes Lily, as the years progressed I suspected something, but Ginny never showed any sign that she was leaning towards his dark influence. She used it to learn confidence, strength, and courage in herself or to catch a boy's attention. Never once did she use it to harm. Never once until recently…You see just as a babe is weaned from their bottle, so must Ginny willingly vanquish him from her mind." Albus was dead honest with the two of them.
"Not before someone strong in Legilimens lures him out of hiding and that someone is Harry isn't it!" Hermione slammed the cover of the ancient text she was reading shut and narrowed her eyes accusingly at Albus.
"Yes, my dear, I believe that only the lure of being able to confront Harry will rouse him out of his protective cage." Albus nodded, his blue eyes shone deep remorse at having to subject Harry to that again.
"NO!!" Hermione shouted in outrage. "NO!! FIND ANOTHER PERSON!! I'LL NOT HAVE HIM PUT THROUGH THAT AGAIN!! NEVER AGAIN WILL THAT THING TOUCH HIS MIND!! I'LL TEAR SOMEONE APART FIRST, EVEN MY BEST FRIEND AND SISTER!"
"Severus is strong…"
"YES!! HAVE HIS SON FINISH CLEANING UP THIS MESS!! IT WILL NOT BE MY HARRY!" Hermione raged at Albus.
"It's my choice." Harry walked out of the shadows.
"Yes, it's Harry's choice not Uncle Albus', Lily's, yours, or mine." James stood beside him.
"THEN WE'LL FIND ANOTHER WAY! SOMEONE ELSE! DONAVAN'S A HOTSHOT LET HIM TAKE THE RISK!"
"Hermione, I can't believe you said that!" Harry snarled sharply. "Donavan is a kid!"
"YOU ARE NOT DOING IT!" Hermione got to her feet and went toe-to-toe with him.
"Hermione…" Harry tried to pull her into his arms, but she was having none of it and slapped his hands away.
"THERE IS NO WAY THAT I AM GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN, SO FIND A GODDAMNED OTHER WAY!" She screamed at him her amber eyes had darkened to a deep chocolate brown and were shining with hot angry tears.
"I'm not sixteen anymore nor is this a rematch with Voldemort. It's just a pathetic sliver of a shadow of his soul and nothing more." Harry cradled her face between his hands. "No worries, my sweet."
"Six years ago today you woke up after fighting that evil monster and you expect me to be okay with this?" Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"WELL, I'M NOT HARRY! I'M NOT OKAY WITH ANY OF THIS!" She mentally shoved him away with her mind and then ran out of the lair in tears.
"What do I need to do to help my little sister?" Harry reined in the urge to go after Hermione. This was Auror business, a loose end that he'd neglected all those years ago that needed a proper vanquishing.
"Son, we'll devise another plan." James growled.
"Yes, Hermione has been put through enough hell this month." Lily was in full agreement.
"Severus or I could…"
"NO!!" Harry bit out though teeth gritted in frustration. "I missed vanquishing a piece of Riddle eleven years ago! I'll clean up my own mess!!"
"Son, you were twelve none of this is your doing." James tried to reason with him. "There's no sense putting either of you through the wringer."
"I'm an Auror. It's what I do! If I'm banished to the guestroom then so be it! We've both been through an emotional rollercoaster this month, but Ginny and her girls take center stage over frazzled emotions! The very fact that my scar has remained dormant means that he is nothing, but a pest needing to be squashed." Harry was in no way the same boy as he was at sixteen. No, he was going to be twenty-five in eight days and was very much a wizard in his prime. "I'm the force to be reckoned with this time, Riddle is my prey, not the other way around."
"Well said, my boy well said indeed." Albus beamed with pride.
"If you feel that strongly about it then I'm for it as well." James was also extremely proud of the man that Harry had become.
"Harry those are strong words, but this is going to effect you. It matters not how much you've achieved part of you is still wary of Tom Riddle."
"I can handle it Mum. I know Tom Riddle is dead, but odds are this final piece of him believes that he has once again gone into hiding and isn't aware that Voldemort is long dead." Harry blocked out the waves of emotion that he was feeling from his beyond miserable wife and focused on the now. "I'll use that to lure him out of hiding and then Ginny can handle the rest."
"Is what Hermione was saying true?" Lily didn't like this situation one bit.
Harry glanced down at his watch it was midafternoon. "Yep, it was six years ago today. In fact at this very hour that I woke up in St. Mungo's after weeks of being near death or recharging, but either way you slice it today is always a touchy day for us." Harry nodded.
"Yes, but it was a day of celebration for us all. You came back to us and we rejoiced." Albus remembered that day that moment as if it were yesterday.
"Yeah, well, it was a mixed bag emotion wise for me…" Harry scratched at the back of his neck.
"Here was my angel crying herself to sleep in my arms and Ron and Luna were dead. Everyone was crying tears of joy, and of relief. I was a mess mourning my friends, confused as hell over my feelings for Hermione, and pretty much angry at the world for letting me live…" Harry paced in front of them.
"Harry…" Albus, Lily, and James gaped at him in surprise.
"I was in agony both physically and mentally. Ron was my best mate and I felt like rubbish for having this feeling of unending love for Hermione…his girl or so I thought. I hadn't really focused on Ron and Luna hooking up during the feast. I mean that alone made my head go tilt. Was I taking advantage of my best mate's girl…my own best friend as well? She was my shadow…curling up to nap with me or just sleep in my arms. She'd whimper don't leave me I love you Harry in her sleep…she had terrible nightmares for days. I was so bloody confused and raw emotionally that I left Number Twelve hours after my seventeenth birthday party and fled to Hogwarts where I could think…" Harry raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "After that everything became clear again, a hell of a lot more challenging, but I made my peace with being alive."
"Harry…" Hermione stood in the doorway.
"I mean look at my Mione…who wouldn't celebrate being alive. Having her being over the moon in love with me the whole time was one of the greatest boons that I could ever ask for and it only got better after that." Harry opened his arms and Hermione flew into them. "I protect what's mine. It's as simple as that."
--
The Carstairs department store…
"Franc?" Draco eyed him in disbelief. "What happened to you?"
Gone was Franc's flamboyant shocking colored tailored suits. He was wearing a suit right out of Gentleman's Quarterly looking every much the well-groomed upper class executive, rather than his usual carefree self.
"Did someone die?" Ginny settled herself on the couch in his office.
"No, but I have had the urge to murder someone as of late." Franc muttered darkly.
"It can't be all that bad."
"Georgette Francesca Carstairs is the new CEO. She feels that my wearing this." He pointed his ring-less finger at his suit in utter disgust. "In her eyes is evidently, far less intimidating for our VIP cliental."
"Frankie gave you a makeover? Why would she do that when she's been this huge fashion designer in New York City since forever? I mean her style isn't exactly conservative." Gin couldn't believe her eyes or ears.
"Frankie?" Draco frowned.
"Georgette Francesca Pruett-Carstairs she's my cousin, on mum's estranged side of the family tree. Anyway, after their final year at Hogwarts she and her twin sister Frederica Desiree went off to make it big across the pond." Ginny explained. "I've only seen the two of them a dozen or so times, but I know that she had her own boutique and Desi had her own Salon on Fashion Avenue. Their mum and dad weren't big on magic either and they were never wanting for anything. Mum got disowned by most of that side of the family when she met Dad. She gave up a lot when she married him instead of whom her parents thought was more suitable to her station."
"Her family owns Carstairs and her father after suffering a heart attack recently retired as CEO and Francesca stepped in to fill her father's shoes." Franc grumbled. "Now let's forget about her and focus on Draco's new wardrobe and the momma-to-be's as well."
"Ginny is that you?" A fiery haired moss green-eyed, classically featured, wand slim woman cried in delight.
"Hello Frankie." Ginny smiled. "Longtime no see. What brings you here from across the pond?"
"Daddy's health scare has him wanting to enjoy his golden years with mother and I couldn't resist the challenge of whipping this old relic of a store back into shape." Frankie breezed over to take a seat beside Gin and took both her hands in her own. "A baby… yet your not on cloud nine about it or something is clouding the way…" Her brow furrowed she wasn't used to her gift being so acute and it had been since she'd stepped foot on British soil. "Be done with whatever it is that's standing in the way of your happiness, you don't need that in your life."
"Yes Frankie. I see that some things never change. You're still as empathic as ever." Ginny gave her a hug.
"Only since I arrived back home…it's as if just being here has unlocked the magic that I've kept locked inside me and it's taking a bit of getting used to it all again." Frankie sighed.
"Frankie, I'd like for you to meet my husband Draco Pendragon." Ginny glanced over at Draco, who was conferring with Franc about his new wardrobe.
"Yes, that's right it's Princess now for you isn't it."
"Not for family it isn't." Draco walked over to meet her. "Nice to meet you I'm Draco."
"The pleasure is mine." Frankie offered her hand in greeting and Draco gallantly kissed it. "You baby cousin are one very lucky girl."
"Oh, I know and he's all mine." Ginny smiled when Draco kissed her.
"Francis you feel free to see to Draco's requests while Gin and I see to her own." Frankie was all cool as ice towards him.
"Francesca, I'm well aware how to do my job and can more than handle seeing to both of their needs." Franc set his teeth in frustration.
"Franc is family and always sees to our every wish." Ginny assured her cousin.
"Francis has a meeting at four at the Palace, because he's taken on the colossal task of personally seeing to every last detail of the wedding. I've cleared my day to be available to whatever needs tending to in the store." Frankie gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Our Franc is an icon in the UK." Draco grinned.
"Francis was a diamond in the rough badly in need of a good cutting and polishing. His image was bordering on the ridiculous."
"My wardrobe was all hand tailored designs that I created myself!"
"Yes, but all in blinding neon colors! Honestly Francis! Beau isn't being nearly as difficult for Desi!" Frankie rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Desiree is a breath of fresh air compared to you." Franc snarled under his breath.
"Frankie, we love Franc just the way he is. He's famous for his flamboyant style. Why change what doesn't need fixing?" Ginny folded her arms across her chest and scowled at her. "We can relax around Franc. He always treats us like family and not royals. His eye for fashion is nothing short of brilliant."
"Sometimes he's a little heavy-handed with the measuring tape, but other than that Franc's top-notch." Draco agreed.
"Exact measuring is essential for a proper fit. Heavy-handed I most certainly am not." Franc bristled at what Draco had just said.
"Now Franc…No harm no foul. We understand that you sometimes forget yourself and don't fault you for it." Draco arched a brow at him surprised by his reaction. "I mean you and Beau have been partners for as long as we've known you."
:Draco cool it with the heart-to-heart.: Ginny hissed at him using their link. "We adore both of you to pieces."
"Beau and I are kindred spirits and have been since we were toddlers. We've shared a flat together since we were eighteen and were both starting here at the store, me as a storeroom clerk and he as a salon assistant. We prefer each others company and have never wished to change it." Franc decided to deal with the issue and not just push it aside. "Females and dealing with them in any other way other than friendship has never been one of our strong suits. We're not repulsed by them, just not interested. They make wonderful friends, but other than that not really our cup of tea. We're just content to be each others companion and it's as simple as that. Beau and I aren't nearly as male oriented as all of you think."
"Honestly Francis! It's not that big of a deal three-quarters of my friends in New York prefer either sex. I merely changed your look because EJ is so five seasons ago." Frankie planted her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at him.
"MY LOOK WAS NOT EJ, FRANCESCA!" Franc got up from his chair and stalked over to glare down at her.
"ALL THAT WAS MISSING WERE THE CRAZY SPECS!" Frankie glared back.
"Seriously, you two time-out!" Desi walked into his offices. "You can hear your snarling two floors down in the Salon!" She was Frankie's twin down to the last freckle, only her eyes were more aquamarine than moss, and she let her waist length mane cascade freely down her back in fiery waves.
"Desi!" Ginny was surprised to see her.
"Ginny is that you?" Desi took in her baby cousins all grown up appearance and her frown turned into a delighted grin. "You look smashing! Married life most definitely agrees with you."
"Desi this is my husband Draco…"
"We keep track of all of you, even with us across the pond. It's a pleasure to meet you I'm Frederica Desiree Carstairs." She offered her hand in greeting. "I'm sorry if my sister and Franc's clashing is ruining your day. Beau is working his magic on Lady Cooper and her daughter or he'd be up here as well."
"He's all bark and no bite. It's nice to meet you as well." Draco took her hand and kissed it.
"He's a real prince." Desi sighed.
"Yes and he's all mine, DJ's, and our girls." Ginny fondly patted her slightly rounding middle.
"Twins!" Frankie and Desi beamed at her in delight.
"We found out officially this afternoon." Ginny nodded.
"That's splendid news. We'll adore pampering you for an hour or two while Franc sees to Draco." Desi rushed over and pulled Ginny to her feet. "Then you can catch us up on the other side of the family tree."
"Go on Peaches enjoy your visit with your cousins." Draco pulled her to him for a kiss.
:Page me if you need me.: Ginny kissed him back. "I will."
:Oh, I will in an hour or so, because then it's home for you and a nap.: Draco let go of her so they could lead her out of the offices. "Have fun."
--
"Okay Draco out with it. I want to know what's going on." Franc went back to sit behind his desk.
"Nothing that can't be remedied," Draco sat back down in one of the leather overstuffed chairs.
"Ginny and her girls are not well?" Franc's azure blue eyes widened with alarm.
"No Franc. The girls are fine." Draco tossed him the DVD. "See for yourself."
"Then what's wrong with our Ginny?" Franc wasted no time loading the DVD into his computer.
"It's crowded in her head as of late…"
"Crowded?" Franc glanced up at him. "In her head?"
"That's right. She's had unwanted company in her head for oh I'd say eleven years or so give or take a month." Draco picked up a magazine and leafed through it.
"You mean to tell me that V or a piece of him is in her head and has been all this time?!" Francs eyes widened in horror.
"Yeah, pretty much, but it's not what you think. He's just an annoying pest lurking about in Gin's head that feeds on her darker selfish tendencies."
"Yes, yes it's more than evident in the books that Gin's driven by something..." Franc was relieved now that he understood what was what with the two of them. "She went from timid little thing to Lola…"
"Lola?"
"She's a feisty alluring sex-kitten like character in a classic musical called Damned Yankees. Her mantra in the play was always 'Whatever Lola wants Lola gets'. She was the devils tool that he used to lure mortals to him, but by the end of the play she kind of takes a liking to the hero and sees the error of her ways." Franc explained.
"Good analogy."
"TMR provided her with the gumption to go after anything she wanted and she clung to that lifeline until she rescued you. Then you became her obsession and he wasn't needed anymore." Franc surmised, as he sent down the order for Draco's new wardrobe by hitting the enter key on his computer.
"Thanks Franc. I've mulled it over a thousand times in my head, but that puts it all in perspective quite nicely." Draco now that the chat about him and Gin was over decided to focus back on him. "So, how does it feel being made over, instead of it being the other way around?"
"Stifling…the woman is cutting off my ability to create! Let alone focus on the needs of my clients!" Franc spat out in disgust.
"Let me get this straight…its okay for all of us to be walking ads for GQ, but not for you or Beau?"
"I'm an artist. I need to make sure that my chakra is free to breathe. It's not like you, Harry, or the others…" Franc sniffed indignantly.
"You, my friend, are a cheeky stuck up snob!" Draco got up to pace.
"I am not!"
"You are so! Let me add that you are also a fraud! Because you detest what you love to push onto others!"
"Artist privilege! When one is surrounded by all of this, twelve hours a day, nearly seven days a week, one does not desire to wear it!"
"Like I said a snob," Draco settled himself back in the chair and went as far as to prop his feet up on Franc's desk. "Like it or no Francis that's exactly what you are." He took out his phone and took several snaps of him.
"No what I am is a man, who values his days off, and likes to wear comfortable clothes."
"Your suits are all one of kind originals, so if a client wanted one it wouldn't be possible because they aren't for sale. It makes perfect business sense to me that Frankie changed your business appearance. If you wear a tailored suit that is also available to the clientele of the store, then they'll most likely buy it. You wear it. They trust your eye for fashion and the store makes money through you and Beau, as sort of walking ads for the store."
"Yes, yes I know all of that." Franc grumbled. "But I don't have to like it."
--
Sanctuary
"Remind me to never piss them off again." Donavan collapsed on the newly mowed backyard lawn.
"I'll pummel you if ya do." Bastion panted with exhaustion, as he collapsed beside him. "God's this bites. I'm beat and we've still got the cars to wash. Bree took pity on us and weeded and de-gnomed the gardens, so at least that's checked off our list."
"My arms and legs will never be the same again…" Donavan had bandages all over his legs and arms. "Crooks has lethal aim."
"Tell me about it. Pepper tried to shred me." Bastion was also sporting bandages on his arms and legs.
Harry and James grinned down at the two beyond exhausted teens.
"The cars ain't gonna wash themselves boys."
"Mercy…" They groaned.
"Not a chance, as it is you boys wouldn't have lasted a day during Auror trials." Harry seemed rather disappointed at the two of them.
"Washing the family pets and mowing the lawns are nothing compared to that and you boys are beat from just doing those." James was also rather disappointed in the two of them.
"It's gotta be close to ninety today and we've mowed acres of lawn this afternoon." Donavan opened one eye to glare up at them.
"Yeah, so we ain't no wimps." Bastion grumbled.
"Sebastian, go take a cool shower, and then help Uncle Paddy with the horses, Griffs, and Unicorns." Harry nudged him with the toe of his Birkenstock.
"I can't move…"
"Stop moaning and groaning, all you have to do is focus on your room." Harry smothered a chuckle.
"I'll still be unable to move and just lie there on my floor or if I'm lucky my bed."
"You have two hours to recharge then it's checking on the unicorns for you." James growled.
"Gee thanks Uncle James. I'll just crawl to the barns." Bastion vanished.
"Donnie you also have two hours then washing the cars you will be." Harry nudged Donnie with his foot and the teen groaned.
"I'll never bend the rules again…" He vanished.
"No mercy for the weary?" James smirked.
"No not today, as it is we've got to welcome Tim, Lilah, and Daph in a few hours, as well as, focus on Gin."
"That leaves us time for a run." James suggested.
"Can't gotta listen for the boys…" Harry shook his head.
"Bree is finished with her task of weeding and de-gnomeing the gardens and is watching Dani. So, she'll be there to help with the boys." James countered. "You need to clear you head for a while and how better to do that than in animagus form."
:Mione? Dad and I are going for a run. I'll be back in an hour or thereabouts.: Harry relayed what was what to his other half.
:We'll be fine, Wolfe. Go for a run as Prince and get your mind off everything for a while.: Hermione sent back.
"Well?" James knew that he was checking in with Hermione.
"All set on my end, let's go for that run." Harry grinned impishly at his father. "So are you going as Prongs or as Loki your wolf form?"
"God's I should never have let the kids name my latest animagus form. I'm not nearly as bad as the god of mischief."
"No, but you were once upon a moon, so the name more than fits." Harry smirked.
"Yes, well, that doesn't mean that I'm gonna give in and write about the first adventures of the original Marauders." James muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, sure dad you aren't fooling anyone. I've seen the rough draft that you've been secretly working on…" Harry ignored the fact that his father was glaring daggers at him and continued. "It's brilliant a best-seller for sure." That said he took off across the lawn as Prince with his father in hot pursuit as Loki the mirror image of Prince only with hazel eyes.
--
Dani scowled at the two teens that had commandeered her Telly and the Nintendo Strata. "I thought that Daddy had the two of you doing chores?"
"We've got two hours to recharge." The two of them were playing NASCAR 2010 Extreme.
"Besides, you weren't using it, so we thought we'd keep you company and play a game or two." Donavan was winning the race.
"Racings an easy game…Why don't you two play Kingdom Hearts VII or Final Fantasy XVI?" Dani loved games that made her think. "I mean there's also the latest Zelda, Metroid, or Mario adventure too.
"Two hours isn't near enough time to devote to masterpieces like those that's an all-day challenge." Bastion answered back. "It's convenient that all of those games are for other systems now, but a pity that Sony's blunder with the PS3 brought down their empire."
"Then at least play the FA 2010 one or the Quidditch, cuz racing games annoy me." Dani turned off their game and loaded up the football game instead. "I like the Wii and this new system better anyway, besides unlike the original Wii… Nintendo made the newer versions of the Wii and Strata's game quality like the 360, so that's all that matters in the end."
"It's not the racing the two of them are all wild about." Bree stood in the doorway of her room. "It's being able to cause crashes that appeals to them."
"At least the football one makes you strategize and you get in a workout too." Dani settled back against her pillows and went back to reading her book.
"Yes sweetie, but then nothing gets blown up playing football and they're beat from doing those punishment chores." Bree settled herself next to her.
Bastion took the hint and loaded up Kingdom Hearts VII instead. "You win girls. We'll use Disney characters to blow things up instead."
"Babe, it's how we take out our aggressions on something, other than the actual ones that we're cheesed at." Donavan rolled his eyes at Bree.
"You're just sore, because Daddy called you on bending the rules to your liking." Dani smirked.
"Handed him his head on a pike is what he did. He's lucky that's all that big brother did to him." Bree set her notebook computer in her lap, so she could show Dani her and Donavan's favorite design for the Cooper's new homestead.
"These are brilliant Aunt Bree." Dani was pleased with Bree and Donavan's hard work. "I love the manor with the hint of a castle type theme. It really is the perfect blend of both muggle and wizarding design."
"What's a home without a star watching tower …" Donavan was proud of that design.
"You two both know that it's their choice not yours." Bastion frowned at them.
"Yeah, we know Bastion, but it's got everything they asked for and it's the one that Donnie and I worked hours on. Down to the detailed stained glass windows for the tower. We took the fairy theme to a whole new level. It's meant to enchant a young girl's imagination and to provide a sense of security as well…there will be no nightmares in Daphne's room." Bree wasn't exactly sure why, but that was important to both her and Donavan and they incorporated that when designing Daphne's tower room.
"We designed the study area, and playroom as one corner of the manor. Her bedroom will be right above that. I'm even planning on getting special permission to fashion a new type of lift, but that's still in the beginning design stages." Donavan loved the idea of doing a magic carpet type lift for Daphne's tower.
"That'd be wicked cool, Donnie, but you would have to have a no fall charm and the floor of Daph's bedroom would have to have a trapdoor or something like that…" Dani easily read him like an open book.
"Dani bending the rules like that is what got me a migraine a few hours ago." Donavan dropped his controller, so he could go have a chat with her.
"Sorry…" Dani grinned sheepishly. "It's just that you were so jazzed about your design that it got me curious…"
"Looking without permission is rude, but your input on the design is greatly appreciated." Donavan gave her ponytail a playful tug.
"I'd never get the instructions to enter Daddy's and Grandpa's lair the way you did." Dani rolled her eyes at him. "Your way of going about it was sloppy and doomed to fail right from the beginning. Logic states that you should try something like that stealthfully and never in full view of Grams, Gramps, or especially when Mummy is occupying the lair. I'd have waited until they were otherwise occupied and then made my attempt at gaining entry."
"Dani, I'm sure glad that you are on our side." Bastion was never sure what she was gonna say next and this one was yet another eye-opening zinger.
"All right, all of you that's enough Mission Marauder for one day," Bree glared at Donavan. "You're having a negative influence on my niece, Clearwater."
"Danielle promise me right here and now that you will never do anything like my foolish actions this morning." Donavan lifted her chin with his finger, so she was looking him in the eyes.
"I promise, besides that stunt would have gotten me grounded for life with no chance for parole." Dani sighed. "I'm not big on grounding now, so I'll be even less for it at seventeen."
"Getting grounded blows at any age, but it really bites as you get older because you've slowly gained a fair amount of freedom and it's a pain in the arse when it's revoked." Bastion agreed.
--
Later that evening…
Hermione glanced down at her watch Dan was due to arrive with the Cooper's any minute now. "Has Draco called yet?"
Harry glanced over at her. "Gin's fine as are her girls. They need alone time with each other before even thinking of dealing with the pest in her head. Oh and it seems as though Franc is under a siege of his own at Carstairs."
"Oh really, what makes you say that?" James was cuddling Rafe against his shoulder.
"Yes Harry, who would even think of tangling with Franc's domain," Lily was content to cuddle Jamie.
"Francesca Carstairs and her twin sister Desiree have taken it on themselves to try to refine Franc and Beau." Harry having seen the snap of Franc couldn't help but chuckle.
"Frankie and Desi are back?" Lily was delighted to hear the news.
"Their father retired, leaving them to run Carstairs as they see fit. Pink is out and GQ is the new black." Harry's eyes danced with humor.
"Poor Franc, Gentleman's Quarterly is quite a change for him." Hermione smothered a giggle.
"Those two always get their way, so Beau and Franc don't stand a chance in fending them off." James found this highly amusing.
"I hate to say it, but now they'll get a taste of what being ordered about feels like." Harry heard someone on the steps and spied Dani sitting on the second floor landing. "Then again if he's half as stubborn as Danielle not even orders will keep him in line."
"March your fanny back to bed Danielle Stephanie Anastasia and no arguments or there will be no World Cup for you." Hermione marched up the stairs to see to her daughter.
"But, I wanna see Daphne!" Dani burst into tears.
"And you will…" Hermione picked her up in her arms.
"I'll send her up to see you as soon as they arrive." Harry joined them on the landing.
"It's no fair!" She wailed in misery when Hermione carried her down the hallway and back to her room. "None of this would have happened, if Aunt Ginny hadn't been a selfish twit, and lied to everyone! I hate her! She ruined my summer! I hope my unborn baby cousins make her just as miserable as I am!" Dani continued to vent while her mother went about tucking her back into bed.
"Danielle, you don't mean that and your Aunt is not a twit nor are you to call any of your elders' names of any sort again." Harry called her on her grumbling.
"I do too! I hate her!" Dani buried herself under the covers. "And she is so a twit for wanting that snake in her head!"
"Dani that's enough," Hermione growled.
"You should test her daddy!" Dani ignored her mothers warning.
"I mean it young lady enough is enough!"
"No, it's not nearly enough!" Dani threw off the covers. "Tom Riddle was always dark as all get out! She's had him in her head for eleven years running! You're only being nice to her because she's family! Anyone else would have been placed through the wringer as well as tested by now! She lied on purpose for months! DJ found out and got all messed up about it! I tried to help him and ended up really hurt! All because of her! She hurt me Daddy, so do your fatherly duty and at least make her go through the humiliation of being tested for being a dark witch! You're the HBP! She's got your sworn enemy inside her head! So be 'The Chosen One' and…!" Dani's tantrum was causing her to be sick to her tummy again, so she did her best to scramble off her bed, and crawled on her knees to her bathroom.
Harry scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the bathroom.
"Put me down! I can do it myself!" Dani pushed him away as soon as he set her down in front of the loo. "I'll never be myself…" She wretched as her tummy lost the battle and she got sick.
"You young lady are nearly five not fifteen. It takes time and rest for you to get better." Harry tried to bathe her face with a cool cloth, but she kept slapping his hand away from her. "Come on Dani don't be like that…"
"I want Momma! Not you!" Dani got sick again.
Harry felt as if she'd run him through. "All right, if that's how you feel about it…" He handed Hermione the cloth. "Danielle, there are things in this world that you couldn't even begin to understand, and this situation with Ginny is one of them. Hell I get to go down nightmare lane again, just so I can lure him out of Ginny, so that I can vanquish him from existence. I'm sorry that you're too little to understand how strong Riddle's influence can be in an unsuspecting mind. How it can bend things to its will and make you none the wiser. I've been there many times. Uncle Sirius died because I let him lead me by the nose. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville could have suffered the same fate. Life isn't easy. Bad decisions eventually make one pay in the end and there is nothing not even the greatest wizards and witches of the world can do to stop it. Because life just keeps marching on…" Harry's hurt echoed with every word that he spoke to her. "I'll send Daphne up as soon as she gets here…" He vanished.
"You really hurt your father's feelings." Hermione fed her some medicine. "The way I see it the only one being a selfish twit is you." She set about bathing her face.
"I hate being sick." Dani sniffled miserably.
"We're all aware of that, since you've been ratty towards anyone who even dares try to keep you company, or heaven forbid tries to cheer you up." Hermione fed her the evening doses of her medicines. "Your father didn't catch a break in life until he vanquished Voldemort. He'll say his first year at Hogwarts, but he wasn't ever truly free until the summer of our seventh year. You little miss have the greatest Daddy in the world, but you don't deserve him especially not after the way you treated him a few moments ago."
"I'm sorry Momma…"
"Don't tell me sorry. I'm not the one you were sniping at. He already feels like he failed you and all of us by not completely vanquishing Tom Riddle's younger essence…"
"He was twelve and you were still petrified…" Dani sniffled.
"Yes I know, but he doesn't see it that way." Hermione carried her back to bed.
"Dobby needed to be freed…"
"Also true and Ginny seemed perfectly fine at the time not even Uncle Albus was any the wiser." Hermione tucked her in.
"He's a snake, so he's sneaky."
"Also very astute of you, but then Ginny's older brothers are Fred and George, so her actions really weren't all that peculiar." Hermione cuddled up beside her.
"True I guess she was more focused on boys, school, your adventures, and other stuff to even notice…" Dani yawned sleepily.
"Dark magic has never been a factor with Ginny. Dark influence perhaps, but never dark magic and being a Healer she's patched him up a time or two and never once has she been branded by his blood."
"I'm a bad daughter…" Dani covered her face with the covers.
"No your not, sweetie. You're just like me and hate being stuck sick in bed for long periods of time. So you take your frustrations out on everyone around you." Harry pulled back the covers, so he could look down at his miserable little shadows tear streaked face.
"I'm so sorry Daddy." Dani threw herself into his arms.
"I know baby." Harry cuddled her close.
--
"See daddy they even wash their cars like muggles do." Daph pointed out the water fight that was happening over by the carports. The three teenagers were doing their best to get one another with the hoses and whatnot, but not the SUV in front of them. "That must be Bastion, Bree, and Donnie they're staying here at Sanctuary this summer."
"Hermione tries to keep things acclimated muggle/wizarding wise as much as possible." Dan parked in front of the front walkway. "The kids are probably working off some punishment, since its Friday night, and the three of them are here spending their date time washing the cars. By the way Daphne your right about whom those three are."
"This place truly is a Sanctuary." Tim hadn't been prepared for the size of the manor.
"It's a beautiful home." Lilah smiled.
"Marcus is really proud of it." Dan grinned and tooted the horn at the teens. "Since the three of them are in the doghouse might as well put the boys to work."
The three teens ended the water fight and went over to greet the new arrivals.
"Hi Dan need some help?"
Dan got out of the limo. "Donnie…Bastion start unloading their things," He pointed at the trunk and it popped open. "I'll see to the Cooper's."
"Sure no problem Dan, we can do that." The boys set about unloading the trunk.
"I've got it Dan." Bree opened the passenger doors for them. "Hi I'm Sabrina Granger, welcome to Sanctuary." She smiled at the three of them.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the beyond brilliant girl that's designing our new home." Lilah stepped out of the Limo and smiled at her.
"It's a team effort my partner in crime, Donavan Clearwater, is helping my twin unload your things." Bree instantly took a liking to them. "Hello you must be Daphne." She smiled at the little ray of sunshine that stepped out of the Limo. "Dani's been pining to see you afternoon."
"William, Aurora, Henry, and Andromeda were saying something the other day about Danielle recuperating from some attempt at using magic far beyond her years. Is she doing any better?" Tim stepped out of the limo.
"Yes is Dani okay now?" Daph's aquamarine eyes mirrored her concern for her friend.
"Dani's not one to stay in bed, so it's taking her a little bit longer to heal. You see DJ is like her other half and was beyond upset at his Mother on Monday evening. Dani took it on herself to try to help him using empathy, the same method that her parents have often used on her. She's too little to control magic of that magnitude and she's recovering from the severe backlash because of it. It's similar to when someone comes down with a really nasty case of the flu." Bree explained. "She's as weak as a kitten, often sick to her tummy, and downright miserable."
"That poor little baby," Lilah pulled Daphne closer to her.
"Dani's learning a valuable lesson about using powerful magic and with our Dani that in itself is a plus." James and Lily came out to greet him.
"Welcome to Sanctuary our home is yours as long as you need." Lily smiled at the three of them then at Dan. "Hello Dan. I trust that you, Dawn, and baby Fara are all happy and well."
"Dawn sends her love and hopes that Dani gets well soon and our baby girl is three months old today." Dan beamed with pride. "Are those the twins? I say the two of them are growing as fast as magical beanstalks." He went over to coo down at the twins that James and Lily were cuddling in their arms and then went back to overseeing the boys.
"We're catching up on cuddles while Harry and Hermione tend to Dani and yes you're right the boys are following in their father's footsteps." James proudly showed off Rafe to everyone.
"Oh, they're both so adorable may I hold one of them?" Lilah cooed down at the babes.
"This is Jamie." Lily set him in Lilah's arms. "James is holding Rafe."
"May I?" Tim could never resist cuddling a little one.
"Sure Tim here ya go be my guest." James set Rafe in his arms.
"The boys are very advanced for only being barely a month old." Tim smiled down at the sleeping infant in his arms.
"By muggle standards maybe, but in our world the boys are right on schedule." Lily assured him.
Harry and Hermione came out to greet them with Fluffy, Lady, Rad and Missy on their heels.
"I say that's Cerberus." Tim eyed Fluffy with scientific delight. "It's more than apparent that he's smaller than the mythical guard of Hades domain... I would assume that his original size would have caused various problems."
"He seems friendly enough…" Lilah blinked at him in disbelief. "Nothing like how they depicted him in the first movie…"
"Fluffy mind your manners!" Harry ordered him sharply when he started to sniff at the new arrivals.
Fluffy mournfully lay down in front of them and whined.
"He's not doing any harm." Lilah cuddled Rafe against her shoulder, so she could scratch Fluffy's ears.
"This is Fluffy. The two collies are Radcliffe and Lady and this…" Harry bent to scoop a wriggling ball of fur into his arms, so he could set her into Daphne's eager ones. "…Is Missy their youngest pup from their second litter."
"She's so cute." Daphne giggled when Missy bathed her face with puppy kisses.
"She's Dani's shadow." Hermione smiled. "Dan would you like to join us for dinner?"
"Hermione that's a lovely offer really it is but…" Dan scratched at the back of his neck, as he tried to think of a way politely decline.
"He's missing Dawn and his baby girl…" Harry grinned knowingly.
"Aye, it's hard to tear myself away from them for long periods of time…" Dan nodded.
"Well then as soon as the boys finish unloading the trunk you can be off to see to your family." Hermione smiled warmly. "Then the rest of us can sit down and have a nice cup of tea."
"Tea would be lovely." Lilah smiled.
"Yes tea is a smashing idea. I'm curious though…Won't the boys need a hand with our things?" Tim asked as he watched the boys at their task.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that we have…"
"You's be here!" Dobby appeared beside Harry.
"Dani will smile now." Winky appeared beside him.
"Little munchkin can't sit still for two minutes." Kreacher appeared next with a bright eyed miniature version of Winky all dressed up in a pretty pink romper in his arms.
"Let me introduce you three to Dobby, his bride Winky, Grandfather Kreacher, and their newest addition of seven months baby Piper." Harry made the introductions.
"The lads are gonna get it all wrong. Here Miss Bree…" Kreacher set Piper in her arms. "You watch over our precious while we see to their things." He went over to show the boys.
"Not to worry…We handle it." Dobby happily walked over to the boys.
"Yes, yes we will make you feel welcome here." Winky loved taking care of whom they saw as their family and went to see to their things.
"What is so difficult about unloading a car?" Bastion grumbled. "They act as if we were bungling it up."
"Looks as if we've been demoted to car washers again," Donavan sulked.
"The task was not meant to be turned into a game. Punishment is not supposed to be fun." Harry frowned at them. "The cars are what need a good soaping not you."
"Yeah, we know big brother and I'd just like to point out that Donnie messed up not me." Bastion pouted.
"Yes, that may be so, but you chose to let him go through with his foredoomed plan and that makes you an accessory after the fact." James narrowed his eyes at him.
"Well, can we at least use Scourgify?" Donnie asked hopefully.
"Your punishment is washing the cars the muggle way not the easy way." James growled.
"Are we talking all the cars?"
"All of them. Now get to it or you'll be finishing at midnight." Harry pointed to the SUV.
"Aah man this blows!" The boys stalked off.
"Boys if you finish before eleven you'll have earned 50 galleons each." Lily called after them.
"No joking?"
"I might even add 50 quid to the mix." Hermione added.
"Well then that's all the incentive that we need." The boys were jazzed about their task now that monetary compensation was within their grasp.
"Treat me to a shopping spree for a new outfit and I'll be happy." Bree grinned at them.
"Mummy and I went shopping today and got all pretty too." Daphne was one very happy little girl and there was no sign that she had ever been involved in a major car accident. "We stopped by St. Mungo's first, because Dromi came up with a way so my new leg can keep up with me while I grow, and no one can tell that it isn't real either." She proudly showed off her triumph over her injury by walking up the pathway to the house without the aid of a single crutch.
"You have one very enchanting little girl." Harry smiled at Tim and Lilah.
"Yes, she's thriving now." James agreed.
"I'm so happy that she's healed so wonderfully both inside and out." Lily smiled.
"Yes, she's a beacon of happiness and full of energy." Hermione was so happy for them.
"She's nearly recovered from her accident and it's because of your little wonder that we got our baby back." Tim walked with them towards the house and felt instantly welcome the moment that he stepped inside.
"We're so sorry that Dani is feeling under the weather." Lilah sighed.
"Our baby girl is sulking and feeling sorry for herself. Daphne is just what she needs." Hermione was happy that they were finally there.
"That's all this one here can talk about." Lilah playfully tugged on her daughters french braid. "Your home is absolutely enchanting."
"Yes and the scale of this is amazing." Tim added.
"Is Dani sleeping or can I see her now?" Daph was eager to check on her friend.
"Her bedrooms on the second floor first door to your right," Harry winked at her. "We've added lifts to all the wings…not that you need them, but if you do the code to punch in is magic."
"Oh, I know all of that already. Dani emailed me all about it when you were fixing up the manor. I don't need one now…I only don't do well on stairs when I'm tired so I'll use them then."
"Daphne…" Her mother shot her a look.
"Um…sorry about that… Thank you for thinking of me." Daphne stared down at her sandals.
"We want the three of you to know that you're family now and that we're happy to help you in anyway we can." Hermione knelt in front of her. "And you little miss are free to be yourself. All of you are very welcome here."
"Momma? I'm thirsty. Can I please have some juice?" Dani's voice whimpered from the intercom.
"Poor baby she sounds miserable." Lilah crooned.
"I say this home of yours is very much a modern and wizarding wonder. Do these DLP screens give you control of anywhere in the manor?" Tim walked over to examine the touch screen.
"I wanted our home to be of both worlds and it's turned out nicely. The power is solar. The heating and cooling is geothermal. So it doesn't cost a fortune to power or keep this place nice and comfortable all yearlong. The internet and Telly are all by satellite connections, so we have that to use whenever we wish it. There's an intercom system and video station in every room." Harry walked over to the screen. "With this you can check on anyplace in the house. For example, let's check on Dani, one touch to the menu and there you have it." The screen now showed a visual of Dani's room.
"Yeah, we spared no expense and left out nothing when designing this place." James grinned.
"Outstanding." Tim wanted to know more and launched into a chat with James and Harry.
--
"This way ladies," Lily headed for the kitchen. "The men are lost to us now. We'll have tea while they chat about the wonders of muggle/wizarding technology."
"He's dumbfounded because all of us were expecting something entirely different." Lilah had Jamie snoozing against her shoulder.
"My parents thought there would be torches, no electricity just like the movies, but then how they showed the manor in the final movie isn't even close to the real thing." Daph went over to the fridge and got out juice for both her and Dani. "Oh yum, is that cheesecake?" She spied the double brownie Juniors cheesecake in the fridge.
"Daphne ask before you go into other peoples refrigerators."
"No that's all right she can raid the fridge whenever she likes. This is your home now too." Hermione placed a reassuring had on her shoulder.
"Well then might I suggest that we spoil dinner and have us some of that scrumptious cake?" Lilah grinned at all of them.
"Yes let's. We've stocked one of the freezers to the brim with treats such as that one, so a slice of heaven is always just a forkful away. I craved it during both my pregnancies and now Mum is craving it as well with her fourth." Hermione got the cake container out of the fridge and set it down on the kitchen island.
"Such happy news you must be thrilled." Lilah beamed happily at Lily.
"Oh, we are and baby Allura will be our baby new year." Lily patted her tummy fondly.
"Momma? Where are you? I'm thirsty." Dani whined over the intercom.
Hermione walked over to the panel on the wall and answered her daughter. "Be right with you baby. How's your tummy feeling?"
"I want something sweet."
"Juice and a snack will be right up." Hermione crooned.
"Fluffy, Rad, Lady, and Missy deserted me."
"Bastion, Bree, and Donnie took them walkies."
"Are Daph and her parents here yet?"
"She'll see you as soon as they get here. I'll be up with your juice and snack in a few minutes." Hermione wanted to surprise her.
"Okay Momma."
"Love you baby."
"Love you too." She ended the chat to go back to trying to watch her Uncle in his new movie.
"So where are your daughters and Lily's twins?"
"The four of them are spending the weekend with Molly and Arthur, which is yet another reason our Dani is sulking." Lily set about getting a tray ready to send up for Dani.
"That's not all Mum, there was also the births of the four unicorn foals this week, and she's been too sick to take part in that as well." Hermione sliced them all some of the sinfully delicious cheesecake.
"Unicorns?" Lilah and Daphne cried out with delight.
"Oh yes, we're boarding three pairs of unicorns and their little ones in our new barn this week. There are also horses and our family of Hippogriffs to see as well." Lily nodded.
"We'll take you down for a peek this evening and if you wish Harry can take you up for a ride on Beaky, Goldie, or their son Spirit. Their baby Misty is still too little to ride." Hermione never tired of seeing the wonder of their world light up the eyes of others.
"Oh mummy, just think of it getting to ride of Beaky or Goldie and seeing real unicorns." Daphne cried with excitement.
"We'll see about getting to ride on of the Hippogriffs, but seeing the unicorns will be a delight for your father and me as well."
"You kidding…Daddy's already eating this place up like candy." Daphne smirked.
--
Dani turned off the DVD and decided to read instead. It seemed like ages since she'd requested her snack and she wondered what was keeping her mother.
"Knock, Knock did someone in here order room service?" Daphne knocked on her door.
"Daphne!" Dani's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "You're here!"
"My Daddy's grilling your Dad and Grandpa about everything wizarding and Mum's having tea and cake with your Mummy and Gran. So, I brought us cake and juice to enjoy while we catch up with each other." Daphne opened the door and walked into the room.
Her eyes took in Dani's room. "No way!" She eyed the Nintendo Strata in disbelief. "What did you do to score that?" She set down the tray at the foot of the bed and took in the rest of Dani's get well soon presents. "Or all of this for that matter."
"I nearly wound up in St. Mungo's for a month and scared my family out of their minds." Dani yawned sleepily. "You look smashing by the way."
"Yes, but that's only thanks to hours of hard work and knowing when to let my body rest so it can heal properly." Daph went over to sit beside her. "I've been hearing from everyone that you've been beastly towards everyone. Is that true?"
"Yeah, you see I'm not big on being sick and to top it off my magic is tapped out too." Dani pulled the tray towards her, so that she could enjoy her snack.
"So, what caused it to happen in the first place? There's always a reason, now what's going on?"
"You've read Aunt Jo's books on Mummy and Daddy right?" Dani dug into her treat.
"Yes, as has every muggle child with an imagination or longing for magic, but if you want to know the truth your parent's versions are the better read." She answered between bites of cake.
"Well, what's your view on Aunt Ginny's character after the whole Chamber of Secrets incident?"
"She does a complete turnaround and is nothing like her previous self, but then that's what being under the dark influence of Tom Riddle for months and months will do to a person at least I assume it would anyway." Daphne frowned at her in confusion. "What's that have to do with everything? I mean it happened ages ago…"
"Eleven years ago my daddy rescued my Aunt…"
"Yes, yes I know all that…"
"He vanquished Tom Riddle…"
"With the Basilisk fang and its blood… Yes, yes I know all of that, but what's that have to do with now?"
"Aunt Ginny kept a shadow of him…"
"Why would anyone wish to do that?" Daphne stared at her in disbelief.
"I guess she didn't wish to revert to being shy again, so she's kept a shadow of him in her head this whole time."
"Unreal…"
"Oh, it gets better. You see he only influences her actions when she's been forbidden to do something that she wants to do or pines to have. In this case she wanted to play in the World Cup and give DJ a sibling too. So she lied to Uncle Draco and the others for months and months and almost got away with it, but DJ found out about it..."
"And all of this came out on Monday?"
Dani nodded.
"So, what you're saying is that Voldemort is still alive and in your Aunt's head?"
"No of course not, he's dead and has been for six years. Tom Riddle's seventeen-year-old self or a shadow of him is lurking about in her head, but Daddy is gonna make it all better again." Dani corrected her.
"So, you've been angry at her and focusing on that, which is why you're not getting any better." Daphne surmised.
"Yeah, pretty much, but I'm fine with it now, because Daddy and Mummy explained it all to me." She was fighting off sleep caused by the medicine that she had taken a while ago. "Sorry, if I'm getting all sleepy, but Mummy gave me my medicine a little while ago and it makes me sleepy."
"Oh, I know all about that, but then sleep is what helps you get better again." Daphne smiled knowingly at her. "Now as for the other the sooner you get better the sooner I get to go flying up on one of the Griffs, because I'm not going until you're well enough to go with me." She picked up the tray and set Dani's juice on her nightstand.
"I'll keep that in mind." Dani snuggled down under the covers. "Oh, could you do me a favor and go check on the Unicorns for me and keep an eye on Missy?"
"I adore Missy already." Daphne smiled. "Mummy's protective today, so I'll go see the Unicorns with her and Daddy after Dinner. Do they have names?"
"In the first stall are Night, Moon, and their twin foals Dreamer and Kismet. Then in the next stall are Diamond and Joker and their Son Clover. Lastly are Raine and Tempest and their daughter Sassy. You've met Missy already she's got a brother and sister named Baily and Lolly who are with MJ, Izzy, and my sisters right now. Their other siblings Lucky and Lulu are with Uncle Wills, Aunt Rory, Uncle Henry, and Aunt Dromi."
Crooks and Pepper slinked into the room to see the new arrival and to come snooze with Dani.
"That's Crookshanks and Pepper." Dani yawned as the cats hopped up to curl up on her bed. "Kitty's this is Daphne."
"Oh, I can't believe that I'm getting to meet Crookshanks not that Pepper isn't just as wonderful because she is." Daph cried in delight and set the tray down on the nightstand, so she could pet the cats.
"Where did it go?" She nearly jumped in fright when the tray vanished off the nightstand.
"It was sent to the kitchen. It's no big. You see anything kitchen oriented when set down empty on a table or something like that is sent down to the kitchen…" Dani was having a time of it staying awake.
"It's the wizarding way of keeping things nice and tidy." Albus and Minerva appeared in Dani's room. "Hello Daphne welcome home." He smiled warmly at her.
"Oh my goodness…" Daphne couldn't believe her eyes.
"It's quite all right child. Yes, it's true that my husband is quite the legend and I suppose thanks to Jo so am I, but we're just an Aunt and Uncle checking on their under the weather niece." Minerva walked over to the other side of Dani's bed and took her measure.
"Auntie, you be nice this is all new to her." Dani mumbled sleepily.
"I don't mean to stare…its just that meeting the two of you is a honor." Daphne finally composed herself enough to speak.
"Nonsense, dear child, the honor is ours to meet a girl with such courage and strength as you have shown over these past few weeks. You and your parents are a welcome addition to our family." Minerva satisfied that Dani was healing nicely walked over to Daphne and smiled down at her. "This one could learn a great deal from you."
"Oh, not that again…we've talked already…I'll be… good." Dani drifted off to sleep.
"I'm really curious about my new school."
"As you should be," Albus winked at her. "Let's the three of us leave Dani to her slumber and go have a chat about the wondrous challenges and exciting adventures that await you."
"Oh, that's a lovely idea, Albus. Dani should sleep until morning and the cats will watch over her." Minerva held out her hand to her.
"Yes, I'd like that very much." Daphne took her hand and the three of them vanished from Dani's room.
--
Later at Dinner that evening.
"Fantastic! This world is amazing. You've taken the most mundane of chores and simplified them to the point of being almost pleasant. Cooking normally a lengthy and tedious task has been shortened by three-quarters of the time. You've taken the task of having to go out and shop for your ingredients completely out of the equation…" Tim was soaking every new experience in like a sunbather soaked up sunshine.
"Oh, we still go shopping. It's good for the girls to experience the normalcies of both worlds." Hermione corrected him. "You see by simplifying mundane tasks we can allow more time for more important things like spending time with our families."
"In other words you've taken the stress out of life, but didn't cut corners by doing so. This dinner for example is five stars." Lilah savored every bite of her meal. "I've dined in some of the finest establishments in the world and this is superb cuisine."
"Thank you Lilah for the kind words." James like Harry loved to cook and having his creations praised always made him feel top-notch no matter what his mood.
"Yes, thank you for the words of praise." Harry poured himself some more elderberry wine. "Just like in the muggle world at least when it comes to cooking not everyone in our world can actually cook."
"Oh?" Tim arched a brow at him.
"But even if one can't cook a main meal, quite often he or she has the ability to create five-star quality sweets." Harry not wanting to step on either his mother or Hermione's feelings added hastily.
"Nice save son." James saluted him with his goblet of elderberry wine.
"The fact is that not everyone can be brilliant at every aspect of their lives and it matters not which world you live in." Hermione wasn't as touchy as she used to be about this particular subject, but it still irked her that she couldn't cook. "For example both Dad and Harry are commonplace when it comes to the field of healing where as Mum and I both excel at it."
"You'll get no arguments from me on that, but then neither dad nor myself tried to kill either of you with our cooking now did we." Harry shot back coolly.
"Food poisoning not only that but severe food poisoning ain't no picnic." James shot Lily and Hermione a look.
"Nor was either incident intentional, but you two will never let us forget it." Lily not pleased with the current discussion picked up one of the sweets, in this case a strawberry creation that she had made for one of the desserts, and smashed it into James face.
"I know exactly how you feel, Mum." Hermione picked up the dessert dish containing her triple chocolate trifle and dumped the contents over Harry's head. "It does get irritating sometimes."
:I'd retaliate in kind, but the teens, the Cooper's, Uncle Albus and even Aunt Minerva do not seem the least bit amused by yours and Mum's stunt.: Harry used their link to snarl at his wife. Calmly got to his feet to go wash off in the kitchen sink.
"Don't you even think of it you two." Minerva shot Donavan and Bastion a sharp look.
"Who us?" Bastion and Donavan shrugged. "We've got a few cars left to wash." They took their dessert and beat a hasty retreat.
"I'm going to go um help them." Bree vanished.
"Please forgive Lily and Hermione for their sudden lack of manners. Lily is expecting a little one and evidently Hermione is still subject to sudden moods." Minerva apologized to Tim and Lilah for the spectacle occurring before them at the dinner table.
"Actually dearest the two of them have always been petulant about not being able to prepare daily meals for their families." Albus wasn't the least bit upset and calmly drank elderberry wine from his goblet.
"Oh, I'm not appalled by this in any way." Lilah smiled serenely at Minerva. "I have never really shined in the kitchen. Whereas my tries at cooking have never resulted in any of my family being sent to hospital they have provided for many an upset stomach."
"We love your sweets though, my darling." Tim kissed her on the cheek.
"Yes, I can make a smashing pudding, tart, or biscuit though can't I." She winked at Daphne.
"This is it in a nutshell. Woman in our family rarely excel in cooking anything, but the sweet portion of the meal and they loathe it that we can." James wiped sticky gooey strawberry pie filling off his face with a damp cloth. :You'll pay for that later darling.:He glared at his wife, as he used Scourgify to finish cleaning off the gooey mess that not only was all over his face but had dripped all over his shirt.
"The two of you have no right to take it out on either of us." Harry growled, as he doused his head with the kitchen sink sprayer and set about getting the mess out of his hair. "Neither of you have ever landed in St. Mungo's for four days or more with severe food poisoning like we have."
"My case was purely unintentional, because Lil's hadn't a clue that she wasn't all O's in the kitchen." James now that he was once again clean sat back down to finish his sweet.
"Mine was basically the same, only Mum was there with Hermione, and knew that all the signs for disaster were there, but chose to let things play out instead of protecting her own son." Harry gave up on using water to get out the mess in his hair, so he gave in and cast Scourgify on it and his clothes.
"The scene played out hilariously in the final film and the fans loved it."
"That's because all his reactions were quite real and no acting was even necessary." Harry chuckled.
"Poor kid was sick for a week." James smirked.
"It's not funny." Lily chose this time to pour what was left in the nearly full pitcher of fruit punch over his head.
Hermione chose to focus on the pitcher of ice water that was sitting behind Harry on the kitchen island and had it pour all of its icy contents over his head. "No funny it is not nor was your practical joke on him warranted."
:Cut it out, Hermione!: Harry was slowly losing his temper. "Look it wasn't my idea nor was I there! The whole crew including Emma was in on it! It's not my fault that she's a worse cook than you and Mum combined! Hell I didn't even think that was possible."
"If we're pointing out the negative then we have to include the males in this family often believe that self-sacrificing themselves is always the best way. They tend to take matters into their own hands instead of relying on others, and are basically clueless when it comes to matters of the heart." Hermione shot those zingers into play.
"You see where food is a sore spot for Hermione you might say listing his failures is Harry's." Albus explained what was up to Tim, Delilah, and Daphne.
"That beloved is an understatement if ever I've heard one." Minerva decided that it was time to retreat and get Daphne out of earshot of what was no doubt going to be not suitable for young impressionable ears. "Come along Daphne. Albus and I will take you down to the barn and show you the Unicorns."
"Yes, sweetie, you run along with them. We'll be along shortly." Tim smiled at his daughter.
"But it's just getting good…" Daphne pouted.
"Hagrid should be doing his evening check on the foals."
"Daphne this sparing match is not meant for you to see. Now off you go." Lilah ordered her daughter.
"All right I'm going, but…" Daphne found herself picked up by Albus and then the three of them vanished.
--
Now that all the innocents and the patriarch and matriarch of the family were gone all gloves were off.
"That was way bellow the belt, Annie." Harry's voice was lethally soft, to anyone who knew him a sure sign that his temper was on slow boil. He was wielding a custard pie topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce in one hand, and a pitcher of ice water was in the other.
"Maybe, but it's all…" Hermione's snide comment was cut short by getting pied in the face that was immediately followed by having a pitcher of ice water poured over her head, both of which were aimed with flawless magical precession.
"I happen to value the lives of the people I love above my own. I had a destiny to fulfill and there was more than just your lives on the line or are you forgetting the whole bloody Wizarding World was at stake! That took precedence over my love life or deciphering the hundreds of mixed signals that you were giving out about me and Ron! Yes, I take matters into my own hands! Hell I wouldn't be standing here today if I hadn't! My Achilles heel has been and always will be you! So keeping you out of the loop allowed me to keep focused on my fate! I could bloody well careless if you can cook or not! It was an honest statement and you both blew it way out of context! Dromi, Rory, Grandma Violet, Grandma Anna, Aunt Jenna, Aunt Gene, and your mother all can't cook, but then you only focus on you, you, you! I need air! I'm going to go check on Gin!" Harry let Hermione have it and then turned to address Tim and Lilah.
"Tim, Lilah, you have my most sincere apology for all our actions. They were childish and not appropriate by any means." That said he vanished in a brilliant flash of his signature light, followed by an ominous flash of lighting, and a boom of thunder that lit up the twilight and broke the quite silence of the summer night. There was no doubt that Godric's Hollow would assume that their prince was in a temper about something and would leave it at that.
"Nice going you two! He's going to go take on Gin and Draco's unwanted guest! Not clearheaded mind you, but in a full-blown temper!" James glowered at Lily and Hermione.
"We're just hormonal…" Lily stared up at him with eyes pooled with tears.
"We can't help it…" Hermione whimpered.
"I should have Bastion come in here and muck out the dining room, because we're knee-deep in it and rising." James snarled at the two of them. "It doesn't even matter to either of you that all he was trying to do was keep his mind off Gin's unwanted guest and the task ahead of him. All you could think of was your feelings and nothing else!"
"Enough! Don't make me have to crawl down there! You woke the boys and me! Now cool it!" Dani's snarl echoed from the kitchen intercom. "And who cheesed off Daddy? Now he'll go off and do something rash like he's prone to when he's peeved at Mummy, and the snake in Aunt Gin's head is the only game in the UK worth going rounds with."
Tim and Lilah frowned at James, Lily, and Hermione. "What's she talking about?"
"Ginny has a sliver of Tom Riddle's seventeen-year-old essence lurking about in her head. He's been her darker conscience for eleven years or so, but has never slipped until recently that is with the incident this past Monday." James filled them in.
"And that's why Dani was hurt?"
"Riddle influences her to lie to get her own way. In this case DJ discovered her lie. The result of that was him being off the scales furious with his parents and Dani tried her best to make it better again. Gin's four months with twins and wished to still play in the World Cup next Saturday…"
"Even as a shadow that thing continues to bring nothing, but grief." Lilah growled.
"DJ has dream visions and him confiding to Draco about his feelings on what he knew and what he had seen put a foil to anything like that." James hadn't thought of Riddle being up to his old tricks again. The very thought of it was enough to make his blood boil, but then her words rang true.
"Good will triumph in the end. I never was a believer in that, until I read the books written by Harry and Hermione. Knowing that this was an anthology of their life at Hogwarts and not fiction made it all frighteningly clear of the ordeals that all of you have gone through." Tim voiced his say on the matter. "Truth be told his and the others selfless actions saved us all from a terrible fate."
"Yeah…yeah…Daddy's the greatest. Now someone come tend the boys!" Dani was one very grouchy little girl.
Lily and Hermione vanished without a word.
"Shall we go see the unicorns then?" Lilah suggested.
"I'll show you the unicorns and our Griffs." James was only too happy to show them around the back grounds, he desperately needed the fresh air to cool off his simmering temper. "We'll go out the Kitchen door." And the three of them were off to join Daph, Albus, and Minerva.
--
Chapter 12
Pest Control
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008