Chapter Twenty-Nine – Island Vacation
Scorpius blinked in the bright sunshine. The first things he noticed as he got his bearings was that it was warm, and it was mid-day. It had been early evening and cold a moment ago.
The next thing he noticed was that there were three people grinning at him.
"Where are we?" he asked them as he looked around. There was a one level bungalow in front of him, and palm trees, and all kinds of exotic plants. He could smell the ocean in the breeze.
"You're standing in front of our island home," Nick told him with a grin. "We get to stay here until New Year's Day!"
Scorpius stared at him. "You've never said anything about having another home the whole time I've known you."
Nick grinned. "It's a family secret. Now that you're part of the family, it's your secret too."
Scorpius looked like he was getting ready to ask a barrage of questions, and Penelope put a hand on his arm.
"We can answer your questions as the week goes along, Scorpius, but I bet Nick would rather show you to your room, get into swim trunks and summer shirts, and show you the island."
"Your bags are already here, so go get changed, and have fun this afternoon. It's about one local time, and we'll have what will be a late night snack for everyone around six."
Nick took Scorpius' arm and pulled him toward the bungalow. "Come on, I can answer questions as we go!"
Penelope turned back to Percy, and put her arms around his neck. "Nearly a whole week, just you, me, and a little over half of the clan."
Percy laughed an kissed her. "Maybe we'll get someone to take the boys one night, and we can go hide from the rest of the them and have a little just me and you time too."
"We should go and get changed too, or all of the jet-skis will be out on the lagoon before we get there." She took Percy's hand and they walked to the house together.
Harry and Ginny had watched Percy and Penelope leave. "Let's give them a little time to show Scorpius around," Ginny suggested.
He put his arms around her waist and smiled as he looked into her eyes. "Works for me. I think I can find something for us to do while we wait." He leaned forward and kissed her.
"SNOGGING ALERT! MAJOR CHRISTMAS SNOGGING GOING ON HERE!"
They both laughed, and turned to see a grinning Lily behind them. She had several other giggling girls with her this time.
Ginny laughed. "Please tell me this is just a phase, honey. I don't know if I can handle two practical jokers in the family."
Lily gave her a hug. "I'm just making a special exception for Christmas. I promise."
Their kids all knew they were going to the island, and the bags had already been sent earlier in the day, so it didn't take Harry and Ginny long to get everyone together and leave for the island.
Ginny and Hermione were both taking the entire Christmas holiday off to spend extra time with the kids, and especially with Hugo and Lily, since they'd be starting school next year.
Ron would only be able to come after the game on Saturday, but would try to stop in at least two of the afternoons during the rest of the week.
George, Marietta, and Frederica were probably already here, and were staying for the week. Charlie, Nathalie, and Art were coming for the few days until the weekend before they had to go back for work at the residence and dragon reserve.
Lisa and Marcus were bringing Carolyn and Brianna later today, coming straight from his parent's home. They would be dropping them off for the rest of the week, then come back and spend the New Year's Eve weekend with everyone.
Isabelle, Victoire, Stewart, and Teddy would be coming for the four day weekend too. Aaron and Arianna would stay in the guest house that Lisa and Marcus would use on the weekend with Carolyn and Brianna, then stay with Harry and Ginny for the weekend.
While everyone that had gotten to the island was settling in, Nick was giving Scorpius a tour, and had been answering his stream of questions as they went.
"So all of your family have houses on this island, and it's completely private?" Scorpius was summarizing.
Nick nodded. "Yeah. There's some guest houses for when we want to come here with friends, but there are very few close friends that are ever brought here."
They'd walked the pathway around the island past all of the houses, and Nick had pointed out which family had each place. When they got to the beautiful lagoon, and Scorpius saw the rows of jet-skis and WaterBikes, he stared at them.
"What are those things?"
Nick laughed. "The things with the big fat wheels are called WaterBikes, and you pedal them around on the water. The smaller things are called jet-skis, and they're probably the coolest water toy ever invented – even if it was by muggles. You're going to love learning to drive one later."
"Why wait?"
The boys turned to see Percy and Penelope walking up to them.
"Let's go do the condensed safety lesson, then take them out and teach Scorpius how to drive them."
The four of them walked down to the edge of the water, and Scorpius listened in fascination as Percy explained everything to him. They pushed four of the jet-skis out into the water, and within minutes he was flying across the water, having the most fun he could ever remember having in his life – on a machine that his parents wouldn't even consider trying since it was built by Muggles. There was no way that a Muggle could possibly make anything of interest to a Wizard or Witch as far as they were concerned.
It wasn't very long before the lagoon was filled with jet-skis and WaterBikes. Scorpius and Nick played on the machines for over an hour before Scorpius needed to go in to shore and take a break.
"You weren't kidding about them being fun, Nick, but it must take a while to get used to driving them. I'm actually feeling a bit sore after only an hour."
Nick nodded as he led his friend to where they could get drinks. "It does. We can try the WaterBikes after we rest up if you want. They're fun too, and I imagine that you and Brianna will really like going out on them alone – every other couple I've ever seen ride them seem to think so."
"I'm guessing any couple with an ounce of romance in them is going to like everything about this place. Too bad Allie isn't here for the week."
Nick grinned. "We had fun at the Yule Ball, I guess, but I don't know if that'll be anything serious. If it is someday, then I'll probably bring her here with us sometime. Like I said, we don't just bring anyone here."
"How many friends have you brought here?"
"Including you – one." Nick said, laughing.
Scorpius laughed too. "Let's go try out those WaterBikes. They don't look like my arms will feel like falling off after riding one."
Nick agreed. "True – it'll be your legs that get tired from pedaling, so we'll make it a fairly short trip. Pedaling until you're tired is a bad idea, 'cause then you still have to pedal all the way back."
Penelope and Percy were sitting with Harry, Ginny, and Hermione on the beach, watching the kids play.
"He seems to be adapting pretty well," Hermione said. "Considering how much he's been through in the last month."
"He's doing great," Penelope agreed. "I'm not sure he's been shown much love in his life so far. It's amazing he's turned out to be such a gentle boy."
"There's some steel in him too, though – and in each of the kids in their little group," Percy told them, smiling. "Did any of you know what happened at the Yule Ball? If what Penelope and I saw on Christmas Eve was any hint, our kids are definitely not going to sit around and take abuse from other students."
Hermione nodded. "I got it out of Rose. Want to hear about it?" When the others all nodded, she proceeded to tell them all about what had been going on with Dirk, and the kid's response to his harassment.
"If they're that creative at eleven and twelve, you're going to want all of them in your lab by the time they grow up," Harry told Hermione and Ginny.
Hermione laughed. "I'm not sure there's much of a market for Charms that make your nose grow when you say bad words, except maybe as one of George's Wheezes. The relapse thing, though, now that has serious potential – at least if applied to something more worthwhile. I'll have to get them to show me how they did that part of it."
Ginny was grinning. "I actually think what they did use it for was worthwhile. They'll just have to be careful. The Avery family isn't exactly known for learning a lesson the first time."
When it was late afternoon island time, everyone was getting tired, since for them it had been a long day. Harry and Ginny put together a light meal for them, and were just serving it when Lisa and Marcus got there with Brianna and Carolyn. They were invited to stay and eat, but declined.
"We've had a really long day, and it'll be nearly midnight back home," Lisa had told Ginny. "We'll only get a few hours sleep before Marcus has to get to work. I'll probably just end up going into the lab early too." She gave the girls hugs and kisses. "Be good for Aaron and Arianna. We'll see you on Friday."
Scorpius and Brianna were taking a short walk on the beach before going back to their houses. He handed her the Christmas present he'd bought her with Harry and Percy's help.
She opened the box to find a pair of diamond earrings. "Thank-you, Scorpius. I love them." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
He grinned at her when she pulled back. "You're welcome." He looked at the setting sun. "I guess we better get back. I know it's not late here, but I'm so tired right now, I could have a nap right here on the sand."
"Carolyn and I had that problem on Sunday after we left the Burrow. We were up with Marcus' family for almost eight more hours that day. He must've carried me to bed, 'cause I don't remember walking there myself."
During the next few days, Scorpius was able to get better acquainted with everyone that was staying on the island. It was interesting watching the family interaction.
It was no surprise to him that Hermione and Ginny were obviously best friends as well as sister-in-laws. Harry and Art's Mum Nathalie seemed more like brother and sister than in-laws. George was definitely the most fun, and Charlie certainly had one of the coolest jobs, and when he talked about his work, the kids actually listened.
He watched Nick and his parents a lot too. Nick got along with all of his cousins and the other kids, and of course was now close with Rose, Al, Carolyn, and Brianna. The relationship between Nick's parents, and the other adults, was definitely different. It was like watching a large group of best friends and two good friends. Actually one good friend when he thought about that some more. Penelope was certainly more accepted into that group than Percy was with his own brothers and sister.
Scorpius had already been given clues as to why that was the case since coming to live with Percy and Penelope. It was obvious to everyone that Percy was trying to join his wife and family instead of standing just on the outside where he'd been most of his life, they were all in turn learning to include him in their group. He could see that it would take some time for that to happen.
"It takes time to heal old differences, even if both sides are ready to do that."
It was after lunch on Friday, and Scorpius had been sitting in a beach chair as he was thinking about everyone, and was startled. He looked beside him to see that Harry had sat down beside him.
"How do you manage to do that?"
Harry grinned. "Some people would tell you it was magic, but mostly it's just that I pay closer attention to details than most."
Scorpius nodded.
"Percy, for instance, is just now ready to fully rejoin his family – we've been ready to let him for over twenty years. It will take time still, but now it can actually happen."
"Is it like that with my family?"
"Very nicely done," Harry complimented him. Scorpius didn't have to explain that he hadn't meant between him and his family, but between his family and Harry and most of the wizarding world.
"Most of the Wizards and Witches that fought against Lord Voldemort would like to include your family, and all of the others that had fought on that side, in the world that we envision, but both sides have to want it first."
Scorpius sighed. "I don't see that ever happening, Uncle Harry."
He watched as Harry's green eyes sparkled with amusement, and he grinned.
"Then you should look in the mirror, since that's where I see it starting already. You have a young lady coming up behind me, though, and you should go enjoy a beautiful afternoon having fun instead of thinking deep thoughts."
Scorpius looked up, and indeed Brianna had almost reached them. "I suppose you heard her footsteps?"
Harry laughed. "And she also has a very unique scent that I'm sure you've already come to appreciate."
They both stood up. "You two go and have fun. That's a great place to start learning about this family. Everything we do starts with the concept that life is supposed to be fun."
Brianna laughed when she heard the last comment. "And we're all pretty good at it too," she told Scorpius, taking his hand. "Come on, and I'll be happy to be your personal fun instructor for the rest of the day."
Teddy, Victoire, Stewart, Isabelle, Lisa, and Marcus all got there Friday afternoon after finishing work back home. Nick and Scorpius were going to be spending the night with Teddy and Victoire while Percy and Penelope had a night to themselves.
This weekend was Scorpius' first chance to really spend some time with his cousin, and even just be able to observe him. The older adults all loved him, and the younger kids looked up to him like the best big brother in the world.
Scorpius had gone to school with Victoire for a whole year, but even though he saw her more than other first year students did because of his proximity to her cousins, he hadn't really gotten to know her.
On Friday night, after they'd all gone back to Teddy and Victoire's house, Teddy sat with Scorpius and told him all about his life growing up. From growing up living most of his life at Hogwarts, to his relationship with his Godfather, friends, and Victoire, he showed his young cousin glimpses of a life surrounded by love and happiness.
In return, Scorpius opened up to the young man, describing a life that certainly was of privilege, but with no real love or affection.
"We're going to need to be very careful with that boy," Victoire was telling Teddy after they'd gone to bed that night.
Teddy had hugged her tightly, and kissed her. "We will be," he promised. "If things with our grandparents had been different, that could have been my life."
Victoire nodded. "Well, at least now we can make sure that it doesn't have to be his life either. We want him to grow close to Percy and Penelope, but I think you can still safely spend some extra time with him this weekend, and maybe be like a big brother to him."
"You know that Uncle Harry sees something in him. It's going to be fun finding out what that is."
"Everything Uncle Harry does is fun, why should this be any different," Victoire told him. He kissed her again, and they quietly talked about other things until drifting off to sleep.
Al had been playing all week, like everyone else. He and Carolyn spent a lot of time together, and they weren't apart very often - just at night when they were sleeping. They were all glad to have Scorpius with them, and that he was having fun and fitting in with everyone else.
The weekend had been even more fun for the younger kids. With Teddy, Stewart, Victoire, and Isabelle there playing with them, they'd all had fun playing at the beach and in the water during the day, and playing games at night. Saturday night's LaserBroom match after dark, and over the beach and lagoon had been one of the highlights.
Today was New Year's Eve day, and there was going to be another dinner and dance on the beach tonight like they'd done last year. The different members of his family had come and gone over the past week, but everyone that had been here for the weekend was staying tonight too. Grandma and Grandpa had come just before lunchtime.
Kreacher and Winky had been here at different times through the week, and Al remembered laughing when he saw the look on Scorpius' face when he first saw the two house elves take a WaterBike out for a ride together.
"They're still learning to have fun," Al had told him with a grin. "You'd probably be amazed to find out that Goblins like to have fun too."
This was their last full day on the island – they'd all be going back home in the morning. That meant that Carolyn would be going back to the residence for the rest of the holidays with Aaron, Arianna, and Brianna.
Al and Carolyn enjoyed the day together, and had fun with their family. Dinners on the beach were always fun, and they danced most of the night together. Uncle George did fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year, then the party started breaking up as couples went for moonlight walks or swims, and others headed for bed, tired from a long day hard at play.
"How'd you like your first week on the island?" Brianna asked Scorpius as they walked along the moonlit beach.
"This whole holiday has been the best I've ever had," he told her truthfully. "I'm going to miss doing stuff like this with you the most when we go back tomorrow."
Brianna smiled and squeezed his hand. "We can't bring this back with us, but I'll make sure that the hugs and kisses come back with me."
They both laughed. There were other people out walking on the beach too, and they passed close by Al and Carolyn, who waved at them, but continued with their own walk.
"I guess we should get back soon so Lisa and Marcus don't have to stay up and wait for me," she said with a regretful sigh. "This has all been so great, though, I hate to have it end."
Scorpius stopped, and put his arms around her waist for a hug. "I don't see how we can keep that from happening, but I'm thinking we still have enough time before heading back to your hause to delay the inevitable," he said just before kissing her.
Brianna put her arms around his neck. "Your hugging and kissing practice is coming along very nicely," she complimented him.
"Why thank-you," he told her, smiling. "I have a very good instructor."
They both laughed, and then started walking again, heading back toward their houses, ready to get some sleep.
All of the adults, except Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were getting back to work on Wednesday, so everyone packed up in the morning to get home. They'd all long since found out that getting used to the time difference was helped by getting back home as early in the day as possible.
The kids maybe could have stayed until the weekend, except that they all had work of their own to do, and not very much of it had gotten done on the island. Every attempt at doing homework assignments was defeated by the call of the sun and surf, and the sounds of the happy voices and laughter of everyone that was outside having fun.
Going home was the only way to make sure they all did their school work, so they regretfully said goodbye to their island, and returned home with another incredible week of memories.
